Description
This HUGE 2017 maple leaf shaped $250 one kilogram pure silver coin (32.15 ounces) celebrates a national icon with the largest shaped coin ever produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. In Canadian iconography, no image is as powerful or illustrious as the beloved maple leaf. Beautiful by nature, its pointed lobes and sharp, irregular teeth give it a shape that is as distinctive as the people it represents, for the maple leaf is the symbol of Canada—our emblem as a nation, the cherished representative of all things Canadian. It is also a high quality limited edition collectible with an extremely low mintage of just 700 pieces.
The coin is struck in .9999 pure silver with a diameter of 150 mm (top to bottom), and an antique finish. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The design by Canadian artist Lisa T. Khan captures the natural beauty of a silver maple leaf, as it would appear in the Canadian landscape. The coin’s impressive size (150 mm) provides a larger-than-life canvas for this engraved rendition, which features all of the details of a true silver maple leaf—including the deeply cut, engraved veins that run across the tapering lobes. The outline itself is unmistakable thanks to its sharply toothed edge, while the use of an antique finish adds to the realistic portrayal. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Few icons are as inextricably linked to Canada as the maple leaf. It has inspired artists and singers; graced the uniforms of soldiers pursuing peace. Until 1936, all Canadian coins from 5 cents to the half dollar featured a wreath of maple leaves. The one cent coin included three different versions of maple leaves from the time the design was introduced in 1858 through to the final issue in 2012. The maple leaf has been the central image on our flag since 1965, and it has given hope to countless new Canadians looking for opportunities. It continues to evoke a sense of national identity among the millions who call Canada home.
