Description
This $200 coin follows an historic tradition while at the same time being the Royal Canadian Mint’s first ever one ounce pure gold piedfort. The extra thick format piedfort coin features a realistic Red Maple leaf in the foreground with a pattern of floating leaves behind. A “25” privy mark is also incorporated into the design, marking 25 years since the Maple Leaf was officially recognized as Canada’s arboreal emblem. Mintage is extremely limited at just 500. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
For more than 500 years some European mints have issued small quantities of double thickness “piedfort” coins for nobility, dignitaries and VIP collectors. By using a thicker than normal format, these coins can be struck with exceptional detail and near perfect surfaces. The word "piedfort" literally means "strong foot" in French and appeared centuries ago to mean "heavy measure" in minting. Today, piedfort more generally indicates that a coin is thicker than usual. Enhanced by the coin’s reverse proof finish, a maple leaf field pattern dazzles on both the reverse and the obverse, which features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
The red maple is one of the most commonly found maples in eastern Canada. Contrary to popular belief, the red maple wasn’t named for its fall colours (red, but sometimes gold)—it gets its name from the colour of its twigs, buds and flowers in the spring.
