This striking 2015 gold coin is the first in a delightfully unique new series from the Royal Canadian Mint that pairs some of Canada's most stunning World Heritage properties with other properties around the world, to illustrate how two sites of global importance share similarities while being so different. Each beautiful gold coin will feature two complementary UNESCO World Heritage sites-one Canadian and one abroad. This particular coin brings to life the stunning beauty of the Canadian Rockies alongside the world-renowned majesty of Japan's Mount Fuji, making this collector's item not only a reminder of the profound importance of protecting these sites, but a unique work of art. This coin is struck in a quarter of an ounce of 99.99% pure gold, with a very limited mintage of only 2,000 pieces in Canada and the United States. As a pure gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is exempt from GST or HST.

The Design:

The reverse design by Canadian artist Trevor Tennant features mirror-image landscapes of the Rocky Mountains and Mount Fuji. One half of the design presents the well-known scene of Jasper National Park's Spirit Island, located on stunning Maligne Lake. The jagged, unmistakable peaks of the Rockies rise into the distant background, following the lake's rocky, spruce-lined water line. Opposite this image and mirroring its composition on the other half of the reverse is a landscape portrait of snow-capped Mount Fuji, as it is often depicted in art and photography. In the foreground, graphically reflecting an island of spruce in the Rocky Mountain scene, a Japanese Black Pine rises skyward. The two scenes are bisected by a horizontal band bearing the mirrored bilingual phrases ""ROCKY MOUNTAINS - MONTAGNES ROCHEUSES" and "MOUNT FUJI - MONT FUJI." The design also incorporates the Japanese text for "Rocky Mountains" and "Mount Fuji." The craftsmanship is exquisitely detailed, and highlighted with multiple finishes to accentuate the natural beauty and unique features of each site.