(CNN) Step aside America, Canada just reinvented the coin.
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Canada releases a Canada-shaped coin
The Royal Canadian Mint decided to break the mold -- literally -- and design a coin in the shape of Canada in honor of Canada Day.
Erica Maga, product manager at the Royal Canadian Mint, told CNN this was a first for the Mint. The engineering and research and development teams worked together to create the innovative shape before the design was selected. The Mint reached out to artist Alisha Giroux, who had previously designed a Canadian map with a different animal for each province.
"I remembered that a few years ago, we had a meeting with Ms. Giroux where she had brought in a print of her map of Canada design," Maga said. "I knew at once it would be just perfect."
Giroux told CNN she had designed the Canadian map years ago just for fun so having her design on a coin was surreal.
"I cried happy tears," Giroux said. "I was ready to retire the design, and this was the best send-off I could ask for."
Giroux specializes in wildlife illustration, especially with Canadian animals.
"The map itself, with all its various islands and provincial shapes, often looked like animals to me growing up -- Baffin Island, for examples, looks like a dog on its back, and Newfoundland always resembled a dinosaur," Giroux said.
The limited-edition coin costs a whopping US $260 ($339 Canadian) and was only printed 2,000 times. Maga said the coin costs so much because it's is made from three ounces of pure silver and was difficult to manufacture.
"The coins were struck, and then the edges were finished before the coloured design was applied very carefully to ensure it aligned perfectly with the engraved relief," Maga said.
This isn't the first time the Mint has created unique coin shapes. They have made a variety of different shapes, including squares and the famous maple leaf. They also developed the world's first glow-in-the-dark circulation coins. Maga said Australia is the only other country, to her knowledge, that has designed a coin in the shape of their country.
The coin, titled "The Canadian Landscape," can be found here. https://www.mint.ca/store/coins/3-oz.-pure-silver-coin---the-canadian-landscape---mintage-2000-2019-prod3570042?rcmiid=link
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The RCM may have gone over the line years ago but if not they have definitely crossed it now.
I'd like one for a pocketpiece.
3 oz silver, $260, mintage = 2,000
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I am not a fan of the Canadian Mint. I used to be until their mike spot problem got out of control. Right now I think the Perth mint is making the best designs.
This new Canadian "coin" is just gaudy.
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I laughed when I saw this the first time. No matter how cool they think it is I see it as a totally ugly loser. Oh Canada 😷
I cannot sort out my thoughts about Canadian coinage of the last twenty years, except that (1) most of it will go back to the melting pot in the event of a significant precious metals run-up, and (2) it is rare that I want to buy anything they are offering.
But I am not totally immune - I bought one of the St. Lawrence Seaway "coins" recently.
I think my eyebrows just fell off.
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Italy should do this. It would make a fantastic key chain.
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now that's overboard for sure
Can you say “Jumped the shark”?
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
That's not a coin. It's a dirt clod, albeit metal.
Or a bottle opener.
Looks like a child's puzzle.
That’s a big swing and a miss.
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That thing is NEVER going to fit in my jukebox, Pac-man or payphone!
I hear that Indonesia is doing something similar. A different denomination for each of their islands.
Lance.
Coo-kook-aroo
Wow, that is... different! The obverse is not too bad. That reverse makes my eyes go crossed. I'd give $40 for it
Yikes!
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Many other countries make weird shaped coins... Though this will just be NCLT, I would say it takes it's place among the multitude of weird coinage already out there.... Cheers, RickO
Canadian mint’s motto: “why not give it a shot, some wanker will buy it.”
I laughed out loud at top stuffs picture.... Thanks
It's all about what the people want...
Canada produces some of the ugliest “coins.”
It is outright garbage. just like most of their NCLT issues.
it is nothing but a money grab from the "believers" that this garbage is a good investment.
you can buy it in a few months for BV...
You said this one right! However, They did produce some really great coins before 1967.
I LOVE maps. For the love of geography. Maybe if this resembled something like it ... but it doesn't. Irregular blobs don't qualify as attractive or anything. Can you say: "POS", as that could be equated with the image with some lowbie national coloring? Their R&D dept needs RENOVATION.