This is part of the popular Crystal Snowflake series, known for its low mintage and strong collector demand. A great collectible for Royal Canadian Mint collectors, snowflake series collectors, or silver coin investors.
December is a month of garlands and wreaths crafted from evergreen boughs and their’fruits’ the spruce, fir and pinecones. These coniferous trees were once powerful symbols of life that survived winter’s cold and darkest days. Ancient peoples lit fires and decorated their homes with evergreens to provide warmth and to preserve the promise of spring to come. As the fruit of an evergreen tree, pine cones represented re-birth and re-generation. Even in today’s technology-centered world, the pine cone provides a compelling connection to the essence of nature, a reminder of the hope and comfort that lie in the eternal cycle of life. Specifications: Face Value: 20 dollars Mintage: 5,000 (each) Composition: 99.99% pure Silver Weight (g): 31.39 Diameter (mm): 38 Edge: Serrated Finish: Proof embedded with Swarovski Elements. Maroon clamshell with black beauty box. Embellishments such as sculptures or moving parts. Crystals, gemstones or diamonds embedded into the coin. Sculptures and/or other moving parts. The Royal Canadian Mint’s FAQ. Citadel Coins Halifax, Nova Scotia Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor.
To scientists, they are six-sided dendrite ice crystals; to children, they are the beginnings of snowmen and fun-filled toboggan rides; to Canada, they are its most defining climatic feature. But to the observant eye, the one that delves into that great blanket of white, snowflakes are tiny sculptures of incredible beauty; so intricate they have been the focus of much scientific study. Scientists will explain that as water vapour freezes within a cloud, temperature, wind and humidity will influence the size and shape of the ice crystals that fall to the ground. Sometimes they will clump together to form large, wet flakes. Or, they’ll fall as dry, powdery snow. But if the temperature is around -15 C (5 F) and each ice crystal has the good fortune to grow large and drift gently to the ground without hitting other crystals, the result will be a flurry of endless masterpieces those iconic star-shaped snowflakes that take our breath away. Star-shaped snowflakes may appear to have endless shapes and forms, but they all maintain their hallmark shape; and none of their branches are ever exactly the same. Science has clearly established this, but the best way to experience the wonder of snowflakes is to stand outdoors on a perfect winter day; when the air is calm and snow is falling and countless fleeting masterpieces land on your glove to be admired. Specifications: Face Value: 20 dollars Mintage: 15,000 (2 versions combined) Composition: 99.99% pure Silver Weight (g): 31.39 Diameter (mm): 38 Edge: Serrated Finish: Proof embedded CRYSTALLIZED – Swarovski Elements. Maroon clamshell with black beauty box. Embellishments such as sculptures or moving parts. Crystals, gemstones or diamonds embedded into the coin. Sculptures and/or other moving parts. The Royal Canadian Mint’s FAQ. Citadel Coins Halifax, Nova Scotia Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor.
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As the lush greenery of summer gives way to the crimson-gold hues of autumn, the humidity that was trapped in the atmosphere throughout the summer is released. Rain showers down upon the earth where the soil, plants and trees soak up the nourishing liquid as if it were the final great drink before the oncoming winter. Trees drip with renewed vibrancy. And as the clouds clear, their wet leaves reflect the sunlight like shining jewels. Gold, orange, yellow, red – as one stops to gaze at the masterpiece of colour, an orchestra of sound begins to fill the air. At first, it is almost imperceptible but grows as one’s ears tune into the beauty of the scene-a multitude of water droplets making their final descent to earth as they flow to the lowest point of each leaf and drip to the ground. It is a cascade of beauty; a fleeting, final dance for autumn’s majestic jewels. Specifications: Face Value: 20 dollars Mintage: 10,000 Composition: 99.99% pure Silver Weight (g): 31.39g Diameter (mm): 38 Edge: Serrated Finish: Proof Certificate: Serialized Packaging: Coin encapsulated and presented in a clamshell case lined with flock and protected by a black sleeve. Embellishments such as sculptures or moving parts. Crystals, gemstones or diamonds embedded into the coin. Sculptures and/or other moving parts. The Royal Canadian Mint’s FAQ. Citadel Coins Halifax, Nova Scotia Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, the massively desired Swarovski Crystal Raindrop – this time with a tiny mintage limit of just 4,500! A forest of giant Bigleaf Maple trees is caught just after a rainstorm, with a perfect crystal raindrop gently bending the leaf on a simply stunning new Silver Maple Leaf proof in full color! In combining the beauty and simplicity of the Swarovski crystal with its unique colorization process, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced a marriage made in numismatic heaven – and the first Canadian coin series of its kind! Canada is world-renowned for its forests, but none of them would exist without the life-giving nourishment of water and rain. This breathtaking pure silver proof features Bigleaf Maple trees along a forest trail, drawn from a captivating perspective that showcases their spectacular foot-long leaves! With selective color and a glittering Swarovski crystal gemstone set as a raindrop, it’s an enticing invitation to head to the forest and experience this arboreal jewel up close! Check out the previous issues in the Swarovski Crystal Raindrop program! 2008 Dramatic Green Leaf Maple with Crystal Raindrop 2009 Autumn Showers Crystal Raindrop 2010 Summer Seeds Maple Crystal Raindrop 2011 Bigleaf Maple in Flower Crystal Raindrop 2012 Fall Orange Sugar Maple Crystal Raindrop. S with all previous Crystal Raindrop Color Silver Maples. 2008, 200, 2010, 2011 and 2012. A quick sell out at the Mint was expected. And has occurred on pre-release! A Stunning, Naturalistic Work of Original Art. This breathtaking coin design by Canadian nature artist Caren Heine depicts a forest of giant Bigleaf Maple trees, stretched along a tranquil forest trail, drawn from the captivating perspective of the viewer. Selective full color showcases the super-sized leaves of the Bigleaf Maple. The tree’s preferred type of terroir and environment is evident in the scene while the element of rain is expressed through the raindrop-shaped, genuine Swarovski Crystal element that bends the Bigleaf Maple leaf in the foreground – a true “Jewel of the Rain”! The Bigleaf is one of the largest and fastest-growing maple trees in Canada, a true giant among maples! Reaching heights of up to 125 feet (35 meters), this elegant maple is well named: its shiny, dark green, five-lobed leaves average a full foot across (30 cm), with two foot wide leaves not impossible! The Bigleaf Maple has by far the largest leaves of any maple tree in North America. When this proud western native tree grows in the humid, crowded Pacific forest, it can often be found with its bark and branches draped in epiphytic moss and ferns, lending a spirit of enchantment to its majestic silhouette. In early spring, yellow-green flowers hang in clusters at its twig-ends. These sweet, edible delights attract deer and other animals to the saplings. The flower is soon followed by fruit: a pair of graceful, furry, winged seeds (samaras). Native American peoples have long been attracted to the Bigleaf Maple for its savory sap, sweet flowers, and close-grained hardwood. This is the thirteenth (and lowest mintage) in the series of annual Color Silver Maple Leafs. Stunning in its artistry, beauty and simplicity, this new pure silver proof in the Color Silver Maple Leaf Series ups the ante with a few twists, including a Swarovski Crystal raindrop! These upgrades to this most popular of annual programs include: 1. The lowest mintage limit ever. For a Color Silver Maple Leaf! Before the innovations of the previous five Crystal Raindrop Color Silver Maple Leafs, all the previous coins in the Color Silver Maple Leafs Series feature the specimen finish. A genuine Swarovski crystal! This only the sixth color SML in the series to feature a crystal! Taken together, these upgrades create the most unique coin in the series – and a work of unparalleled gorgeousness! We believe that this coin presents an entry-level investment opportunity in a relatively low-priced proof. A quick sell out is expected. For more information about Swarovski crystals of Austria, please see the presentation at the end of this article. The Royal Canadian Mint leads the world with its proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The intricate detail, smooth gradients, and extreme precision of the technology create a stunning look on each coin. The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. This one troy ounce silver coin is 99.99% pure! A beautiful, full-color image of Bigleaf Maple forest, with a vibrantly hued Bigleaf Maple leaf, yielding to the weight of a single raindrop, represented by a genuine Swarovski crystal. The date and denomination are both indicated. A cameo frosted proof portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. REGINA (“Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God”) also appears. The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Proof with Color and Swarovski Crystal. 9999 Fine (Pure) Silver. Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut crystal glass products produced by the privately-owned company Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen, Austria (near Zürich, Switzerland). Swarovski crystal was born when a Bohemian, Daniel Swarovski, invented an automatic cutting machine in 1892. In 1895 the Swarovski company was founded when he established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria). Here he could take advantage of local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding processes he had patented. Swarovski crystal contains approximately 32% lead to maximize refraction. The Swarovski Crystal firm produces a wide range range of products, but is world-renowned for the incredible quality and brilliance of its crystal jewelry. In order to create a crystal that allows light to refract in a rainbow spectrum, Swarovski coats some of its crystals with special metallic chemical coatings. For example, Aurora Borealis, or “AB”, is one of the most popular coatings, and gives the surface a rainbow oil slick appearance. Recent developments include the 2004 release of a new, patented cut, Xilion, designed to optimize the brilliance of roses (crystal components with flat backs) and chatons (diamond-cut crystals).
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with Crystal. On February 6, 1952, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the thrones of England and the six Commonwealth realms that recognized her as their head of state at that time, including Canada. As millions around the world watched her coronation in Westminster Abbey – the first televised British coronation – they could not know that they were witnessing the inauguration of a reign that would last well into the next millennium. Today, Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning monarch of England and sixteen Commonwealth realms. She is also Head of the fifty-four-member Commonwealth of Nations. The year 2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II – a celebration around the world of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s succession to the throne. Celebrations in Canada, as around the world, acknowledge Queen Elizabeth II’s lifetime dedication and service to her subjects, to the Commonwealth, and to innumerable charitable causes. Specifications: Item Number: 114565 Face Value: 20 dollars Mintage: 15,000 Composition: 99.99% pure Silver Weight (g): 31.39 Diameter (mm): 38 Edge: Serrated Finish: Proof Certificate: Serialized Artist: Laurie McGaw. Maroon clamshell with black beauty box. Embellishments such as sculptures or moving parts. Crystals, gemstones or diamonds embedded into the coin. Sculptures and/or other moving parts. The Royal Canadian Mint’s FAQ. Citadel Coins Halifax, Nova Scotia Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor.
The spinning maple seeds of summer & a perfect crystal raindrop together on a simply stunning new Silver Maple Leaf proof! In combining the beauty and simplicity of the Swarovski crystal with its unique colorization process, the Mint has produced a marriage made in heaven – and the first Canadian coin of its kind! Here we find a solitary maple leaf, caught at the precise moment when a lone raindrop, tugged by gravity, begins its descent to the forest floor. The maple is an endless source of beauty throughout the year. People most readily associate it with the breathtaking crimson and gold hues of autumn, but those with an observant eye will also recall the clusters of tiny flowers that burst forth with vibrant freshness every spring and early summer – and carpet roads and driveways with drifting yellows and greens as blossoms fall to the ground. As summer progresses, seeds will form where female flowers once were; these winged whirligigs, called “samaras”, rotate like tiny propellers as they drift to the ground or when playful hands toss them into the air. So powerful is the association between the maple leaf and Canada that you might be be surprised to learn that of the 115 species of maple trees in the world, only ten occur naturally in Canada! From the fresh new growth of spring to their ultimate expression of vibrant fall hues, the leaves of the maple enrich the Canadian landscape from coast to coast. In summer, they form a dense canopy that shields against the summer sun, as well as unexpected rain showers. When the clouds clear, the leaves shine with renewed vibrancy, their wet surfaces reflecting maximum light from the sun. But this moment of heightened beauty is short-lived. As each leaf bends under the weight of the moisture, water collects at its lowest point and begins to form a water droplet. The droplet is dynamic. It continues to grow until the leaf can no longer support its weight. The leaf curves forward, and for a fleeting moment a tear-shaped drop of water hangs between heaven and earth before falling to the ground – a tiny echo of the life-giving rain that passed a few moments earlier. This is the tenth (and lowest mintage) in the series of annual Color Silver Maple Leafs. Stunning in its artistry, beauty and simplicity, this new pure silver proof in the Color Silver Maple Leaf Series ups the ante with a few twists. These upgrades to this most popular of annual programs include: 1. The lowest mintage limit ever. (10,000) to date for a Color Silver Maple Leaf! Before the innovations of the past two year’s Crystal Raindrop Color Silver Maple Leafs, all the previous coins in the Color Silver Maple Leafs Series feature the specimen finish. In fact, this is only the 4th proof-finish SML ever (including the 1989 proof SML). A new, much higher denomination! A genuine Swarovski crystal! Not only is this only the second color SML in the series to feature a crystal, it’s also only the fourth Royal Canadian Mint coin ever to combine a crystal with color! Taken together, these upgrades create the most unique coin in the series – and a work of unparalleled gorgeousness! We believe that this coin presents an entry-level investment opportunity in a relatively low-priced proof. A quick sell out was expected and occurred as predicted. For more information about Swarovski crystals of Austria, please see the presentation at the end of this article. The Royal Canadian Mint leads the world with its proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The intricate detail, smooth gradients, and extreme precision of the technology create a stunning look on each coin. The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. This one ounce silver coin is 99.99% pure! A beautiful, full-color image of a sprig of vibrantly hued maple leaves, with seed cluster attached, and yielding to the weight of a single raindrop, represented by a genuine Swarovski crystal. The date and denomination are both indicated. A cameo proof portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. REGINA (“Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God”) and mint mark also appear. The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Proof with Color and Swarovski Crystal. 9999 Fine (Pure) Silver. Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut crystal glass products produced by the privately-owned company Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen, Austria near Zürich. Swarovski crystal was born when a Bohemian, Daniel Swarovski, invented >an automatic cutting machine in 1892. In 1895 the Swarovski company was founded when he established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria). Here he could take advantage of local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding processes he had patented. Swarovski crystal contains approximately 32% lead to maximize refraction. The Swarovski Crystal firm produces a wide range range of products, but is world-renowned for the incredible quality and brilliance of its crystal jewelry. In order to create a crystal that allows light to refract in a rainbow spectrum, Swarovski coats some of its crystals with special metallic chemical coatings. For example, Aurora Borealis, or “AB”, is one of the most popular coatings, and gives the surface a rainbow oil slick appearance. Recent developments include the 2004 release of a new, patented cut, Xilion, designed to optimize the brilliance of roses (crystal components with flat backs) and chatons (diamond-cut crystals).
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with Crystal. On February 6, 1952, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the thrones of England and the six Commonwealth realms that recognized her as their head of state at that time, including Canada. As millions around the world watched her coronation in Westminster Abbey – the first televised British coronation – they could not know that they were witnessing the inauguration of a reign that would last well into the next millennium. Today, Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning monarch of England and sixteen Commonwealth realms. She is also Head of the fifty-four-member Commonwealth of Nations. The year 2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II – a celebration around the world of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s succession to the throne. Celebrations in Canada, as around the world, acknowledge Queen Elizabeth II’s lifetime dedication and service to her subjects, to the Commonwealth, and to innumerable charitable causes. Specifications: Item Number: 114565 Face Value: 20 dollars Mintage: 15,000 Composition: 99.99% pure Silver Weight (g): 31.39 Diameter (mm): 38 Edge: Serrated Finish: Proof Certificate: Serialized Artist: Laurie McGaw. Maroon clamshell with black beauty box. Embellishments such as sculptures or moving parts. Crystals, gemstones or diamonds embedded into the coin. Sculptures and/or other moving parts. The Royal Canadian Mint’s FAQ. Citadel Coins Halifax, Nova Scotia Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor.
