A coin specialist has highlighted two of the special platinum coin designs which were issued in Canada for 13 years, NumisMaster.com reported on Monday (30th March).

The Royal Canadian Mint commenced production of its annual sets of four platinum coins in 1990 with the intention of paying tribute to some of the country's wild animals.

Coming in $30, $75, $150 and $300 varieties, the sets were discontinued in 2003 with the walrus edition, having commenced by featuring the polar bear.

In between, snowy owl, cougar, Arctic fox, sea otter, Canadian lynx, peregrine falcon, bison, grey wolf, muskox, pronghorn, harlequin duck, great blue heron and walrus designs were all released.

Commenting on the coins, Dennis G Rainey from World Coin News has highlighted the particular success of the 1996 peregrine falcon and 2001 harlequin duck versions.

"The peregrine falcon has been the favourite of falconers for at least 3,000 years and has a great deal of mystique about it," he told the news provider.

He added that the male harlequin is a "really handsome bird" made up of plenty of different colours, which might explain its enduring popularity with Canadians.

The Royal Canadian Mint produced the world's first-ever coloured circulation coin, the 2004 Remembrance Day 25-cent piece, which featured a red poppy on the reverse.

Source:

Canadian Platinum Honors Falcon, Duck (30/03/09)
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