Help Needed - Canada Two Dollar Bear Coins

Popcoin

Since I have no reference material on these coins, can someone help me out.

This is what I THINK I know:

-They were produced from 1996 thru 2007

-There are three different bear designs
...One Bear (most coins)
...Bear and cubs (2000)
...New Bear (2006)

They have been described as UNC, MS, Proof, Proof-Like (ICCS has graded them PR and MS)
Also as "From Specimen Set", Sterling Silver, Gold Center, Gold-Plated Center

So what is the real story on these coins??

Thanks for any help,
Larry

shirohniichan

Check out Gatewest Coins site to check out the 1999 silver and gold Nunavut twoonie issues..

Their site isn't the easiest to navigate to find all the twoonies, though.

Popcoin

shirohniichan,

Thanks so much for your help.

And yes it is a little hard to locate the different coins.

Thanks again,
Larry

shirohniichan

There are a number of things to keep in mind when considering modern Canadian coins:

1) Unc/ BU
Mint state circulation coins are called "unc" or "BU". They are struck and handled simply as a medium of exchange. The numismatic issues follow:

2) Prooflike/ Brilliant Uncirculated
Coins struck for collectors using specially prepared blanks on slower moving equipment and packaged more carefully were unofficially dubbed "prooflikes" back in the early 1950's. The Royal Canadian Mint never called them "prooflike", and in 1982 they officially called them "Brilliant Uncirculated." It is important not to confuse them because gem brilliant uncirculated business strikes are far rarer than gem numismatic strikes (formerly known as prooflikes). Canadian collectors continues to use the term prooflike to avoid this confusion.

3) Specimen
These are double struck coins for collectors using specially prepared blanks on special equipment and packaged more carefully. Generally they have a mirror finish over both fields and features.

4) Proof
These are also multiple struck coins on the best quality planchets using special dies that produce coins with mirrored fields and frosted devices. Since specimens also have mirrored fields, some collectors mistake specimens for proofs.

The RCM has introduced a number of special edition products that make collecting "one of each" of any series difficult.

shirohniichan

Try Colonial Acres Coins:

1996 to 1999 Twoonies in all strikes

2000 and beyond

Popcoin

shirohniichan,

Thanks again. The info and links were a great help.

No gold or gold-plated mentioned there, so must be a selling hype.

Again, thanks so much for your help.

Larry

shirohniichan

<< <i>shirohniichan,

Thanks again. The info and links were a great help.

No gold or gold-plated mentioned there, so must be a selling hype.

Again, thanks so much for your help.

Larry >>



Actually, there were a couple of issues that had gold cores and silver/gold outer rings or gold-plated silver cores with silver outer rings.

1996: gold-plated sterling silver core with sterling silver ring, mintage 5,000

1999: 22 kt gold core with .776 silver/.172 gold ring, mintage 4,298

1999: gold-plated sterling silver core with sterling silver ring, mintage 39,873

2000: 22 kt gold core with .776 silver/.172 gold ring, mintage 5,881

2000: gold-plated sterling silver core with sterling silver ring, mintage 39,768