On Thursday, Mar. 9, the Royal Canadian Mint announced the release of two bullion products — a silver coin depicting a leaping lynx and a gold coin showing a bugling elk.
The 2017 $5 Canadian Lynx Silver Coin is in an ounce of 99.99% pure silver. Designed by Emily Damstra, the wild cat appears leaping toward its prey and against a background of precise radial lines. Inscriptions include CANADA, 9999, FINE SILVER, 1 OZ, ARGENT PUR and ED for the artist’s initials.
This bullion coin is the second issue from the Mint’s four-coin "Predator" series and it is restricted to a more exclusive mintage of 500,000 pieces. The series debuted last year with the leaping Cougar coin, which was limited to 1 million pieces.
The 2017 $200 Canadian Elk Gold Coin is the latest release from the Royal Canadian Mint’s "Call of the Wild" series. The program of coins offers five nines of purity at 99.999% and are the highest denominated among the world’s 1-ounce gold bullion coins. The series kicked off in 2014 and has featured a howling wolf, growling cougar and roaring grizzly. These coins are minted to demand.
Designed by Canadian artist Pierre Leduc, the elk appears against 8 thick lines representing the sound waves of the animal’s distinct bugle. Inscriptions around the design are CANADA, FINE GOLD, 99999 and 1 OZ OR PUR.
This product features credit card-style packaging and includes a certificate of purity signed by the Mint’s Chief Assayer.
Both bullion coins carry a micro-engraved maple leaf mint mark for enhanced security. They also share obverse portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, by Susanna Blunt, with encircling inscriptions of ELIZABETH II, D G REGINA, and 2017.
Like other world mints, the Royal Canadian Mint does not sell bullion coins directly to the public. Instead, buyers are encouraged to contact a reputable bullion dealer to order them. The new gold pieces are selling for about $64 over spot while the silver coins are going for roughly $4 over spot. Discounts are available when buying them at larger quantities.
