Description
This 2014 $5 platinum coin pays homage to the exemplary Canadian maple leaf, an internationally-recognized emblem of Canada. This coin is struck in 1/10th of an ounce of 99.95% platinum, and has a low mintage of 3,000 pieces worldwide. As a pure platinum coin, this item is GST/HST-exempt.
The Design:
Designed by Pierre Leduc, the illustration on the reverse of this coin boasts a fresh and light new perspective on the iconic foliage. The Royal Canadian Mint's engravers have given depth to the image by showcasing the maple's deeply-cut veins, while a brilliant background makes it so that one could almost imagine looking up into a bright, white autumn sky to watch the leaves fall gently to earth. Around the rim of this coin the word "CANADA", the date "2014" and the face value of "5 DOLLARS" are engraved. The coin has a 16mm diameter.
The Canadian Maple Leaf:
Canada has had a long relationship with the maple leaf, as the maple tree was a staple in Aboriginal life long before European settlers arrived on the shores of North America. Modern associations of the maple leaf harken back to the 18th century, when it was adopted as the symbol of the French Canadians who dwelled by the St. Lawrence River. At the time, it was described by the first mayor of Montreal as "the symbol of the Canadian people." By the mid-1800s, it came to be included in the Coat of Arms of both Ontario and Quebec, and by 1921, was included in the Federal Coat of Arms of Canada. In 1965, Canada's flag was changed from the Canadian Red Ensign to the Maple Leaf flag we know and love.
