2016-07-29 Fri

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued the latest coin of the “big coin” series. Every Canadian denomination in circulation has been minted on a unique five-ounce silver piece featuring the country’s most popular motifs.

The latest coin features the 50-cent coin design. The 50-cent coins are rarely used in the country but its reverse design is elegant. The crest design was issued in 1937 during the reign of King George VI. The coat of arms includes representations for the people of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, who made up Canada’s population before the confederation in 1867.

The coat of arms design depicts the maple leaf, a lion and unicorn on each side holding banners. In 1959, the design was changed with a lion to the top of the crest and crowned. This design is still used on coins today and is featured on the new coin.

The reverse depicts a yellow lion holding a blue, white, and red Union Jack flag and a white unicorn holding a blue flag with three yellow French fleurs-de-lys. A shield is split into five sections with emblems of England, France, Scotland, and Ireland, with three red maple leaves. The red ribbon represents the Order of Canada along with the motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam, which translates to “desiring a better country”.

St. Edward’s Crown is featured above the lion, the motto A Mari usque ad Mare (“from sea to sea”) appears in yellow on a blue ribbon, along with a garland made of the floral emblems of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. Other inscriptions include ‘CANADA’, the date, 2016 and 50 CENTS.

The obverse features the common portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

The mintage limit of this 50 Cents 157.6 Grams .999 Silver coin is 1500 pieces.