2017-08-22 Tue

The Royal Canadian Mint can’t stay calm, although they are well aware of the fact that the Year of the Dog on the Chinese Lunar Zodiac calendar begins in 2018, they are still issuing coins for the new year. The RCM in August released three commemorative coins for the event — a half-ounce silver $10 coin, a scalloped shaped silver $15 coin and a gold $150 coin, containing a good amount of pure gold.

On the obverse of all the coins features the Susanna Blunt effigy of Queen Elizabeth, with different legends referencing her role as queen and her reign over Canada.

The half-ounce .9999 fine silver $10 coin features a reverse by Canadian artist Simon Ng. His design showcases a dog standing above a traditional Chinese latticework that incorporates a rose, one of the dog’s lucky flowers. The rose is also seen on the dog’s chest, while oncidium and cymbidium orchids, the dog’s other floral charms, fill the remainder of its silhouette. The Chinese character for “dog” appears to the right.

The engraving depicts the loyal personality of the dog that is ready to play or protect. The date of issue and the denomination are also indicated. The Specimen $10 coin weighs 15.87 grams, measures 34 millimeters in diameter and has a mintage limit of 15,888 pieces.

It has an official issue price of $41.88 Canadian.

The Proof .9999 fine silver $15 coin features an image of a shar pei on the reverse. Three Degrees Creative Group created the reverse design.

The shar pei is a faithful protector and a courageous companion as it looks beyond the coin’s scalloped rim. Beneath its muzzle is the engraved Chinese character for “dog,” while the timeless beauty of magnolia blossoms adds an ornamental flourish at the left side of the coin.

The $15 coin weighs 26.51 grams and measures 38 millimeters in diameter. The coin has a mintage limit of 18,888 pieces and retails for $101.88 Canadian.

The gold coin features a design very similar to the silver $10 coin.

The reverse design portrays the energetic, bounding character of its representative animal. Canadian artist Aries Cheung has constructed a depiction of a dog leaping with playful energy over the Chinese character for ‘dog’ beneath it. Behind the canine is a rainbow and auspicious clouds, their swirling contours echoed in the dog’s fur to bestow good fortune upon this friendly and loyal zodiac sign.

The Proof coin, made from an alloy that is .750 fine gold and .250 fine silver, weighs 11.84 grams and contains 8.88 grams of pure gold. The coin measures 28 millimeters in diameter. It has a mintage limit of 1,500 pieces and retails for $688.88 Canadian.

All prices listed are in Canadian funds. Buyers outside Canada purchasing the coins through the RCM will pay a price based on the exchange rate at the time of purchase.