Canada’s Arctic Landscape – Silver Coin Review

The Arctic Landscape Silver Coin

Earlier this month I purchased the Canada’s Arctic Landscape 2013 Fine Silver coin. It’s a 1 kilogram (2.2lb) 99.99% silver coin made by the Royal Canadian Mint. It can be bought either on the mint.ca directly, or through one of their third party vendors world wide. Either way, you can expect to pay $2,249.95 CAD.  (^_-) I didn’t have any savings, so I borrowed the money from my line of credit. :0) The coin comes with a custom maple wood box lined with flock, and fits in a black cardboard sleeve to protect the box.

PRESENTATION

The coin itself, which is inclosed in a transparent plastic case, can be set comfortably inside the linings of the wooden box so they can be displayed together. The craftsmanship on the box is top notch and compliments the coin well.

DESIGN

The image on the Arctic Landscape coin was designed by Canadian artist W. David Ward. The image represents a highly detailed rendition of the Baffin Island at the mouth of the Northwest Passage. On the obverse side of the coin is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Susanna Blunt. At 4 inches wide in diameter the coin looks somewhat smaller than a DVD which is 4.7 inches wide. The coin is roughly half an inch thick. Weighing in at exactly 1,000 grams or roughly 32 troy ounces, it’s aboot 32 times the size and weight of the various 1 oz silver coins that are common in circulation.

VALUE

Based on current commodity pricing 1 kg of silver should cost no more than $1,000. But the price for this coin is $2,250. Why the premium? Unlike bullion, these rare, authentic, un-circulated coins are specially commissioned, proof finished and have a limited mintage. But is all that worth the extra cost over the spot price of silver? I certainly think so. 🙂 Proofs are minted with special dies that have been chemically treated with acid. Furthermore each coin is struck multiple times to force the silver into all the crevices of the die giving the coin more definition and fidelity. 

The result is a gorgeous coin that has a very distinct look and feel that can’t be replicated with normal minting practices. For example, when viewed from certain angles the design appears clean, flat, and almost cell shaded like a painting (see image below.) But when viewed from other angles the contrast of the image becomes more dynamic. The water and sky darkens in contrast to the glacier in the foreground, and the surface feels more 3 dimensional. It’s almost like magic. (゜o゜)  (mouse over image below to see the change.) Furthermore, the light reflecting off this coin appears to have a higher range than what most digital displays can output. Pictures like the ones in this post cannot accurately depict its true beauty. The only way to appreciate a proof coin properly is to see it in person. 😉

Only 750 of these Arctic Landscape coins were minted. So today only 1 in roughly 9.3 million people in the world can own this coin. It will become 1 in every 10 million in the future as the population grows making the coin even more rare. From the ingenuity used to craft this coin to the sheer beauty of its design this is truly a work of art.

VERDICT

This beautifully crafted fine silver coin captures the history, heritage, and magnificence of the Arctic landscape. It’s a symbol of Canadian engineering and artistic talent working together to create something truly brilliant. It’s almost like this coin was just mint to be. 😀 The rare mintage (only 750,) and the globally recognized RCM brand make this coin a must have for any collector or enthusiast. I give this coin a perfect 5 out of 5. Delivered as advertised. A+++ product. Great seller. Would buy from again!