Description
With a mintage of just 800 coins, this new 2021 10 ounce fine silver $100 coin is both a symbol of Canadian patriotism and a scarce limited edition collectible. The design includes a full colour red maple leaf surrounded by a wreath featuring all 10 of Canada’s maple species. GST/HST exempt.
Canada’s arboreal emblem consists of not one but 10 different maple (Acer) species, and that diversity is perfectly illustrated on this 10 oz. pure silver coin. Its engraved design features a clockwise swirl of Canadian maple leaves, each one different from the other and held together by a ribbon that ends in a bow. To top it off, the coin includes selective touches of red and white – Canada’s official colours since 1921 – to transform this Arboreal Anniversary piece into a dual celebration of national symbols.
Designed by Canadian artist Michelle Grant, the coin’s reverse features a leaf arrangement representing the 10 Canadian maple (Acer) species (clockwise): mountain (A. spicatum), red (A. rubrum), striped (A. pensylvanicum), Manitoba (A. negundo), Douglas (A. glabrum), sugar (A. saccharum), big leaf (A. macrophyllum), silver (A. saccharinum), black (A. nigrum) and vine (A. circinatum). Red enamel highlights the sugar maple leaf at the centre; selective frosting adds a touch of white to the ribbon, bow and banner, which bears the dates “1921-2021” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canada’s national colours (red and white).
The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt and a special privy mark in honour of the 25th anniversary (1996-2021) of Canada’s national arboreal emblem, the maple (Acer).
Did you know that red and white became our national colours in 1921, as a result of the proclamation of the coat of arms by King George V. Historically, those two colours have also been associated with England and France.
Among the maples featured on this coin, the black maple (Acer nigrum) is known to cross with the more famous sugar maple (A. saccharum) where their ranges overlap. The striped maple (A. pensylvanicum) and the vine maple (A. circinatum) also tend to be overshadowed by other species (literally) – both are understory trees. And the mountain maple (A. spicatum) holds the distinction of being our smallest maple species, while the Manitoba maple (A. negundo) produces the most distinctive leaf – it’s the only Canadian maple with compound leaves