Baseball is the theme of a new series of coins now available from the Royal Canadian Mint. 2013 World Baseball Classic™ Commemorative Coins include four fine silver and three pure gold coins that encompass officially licensed products of the 2013 World Baseball Classic tournament.
Included in the release are a 1/2 ounce fine gold coin, two 1/4 ounce fine gold coins and four 1 ounce fine silver coins. Each is in proof quality and depicts a different baseball related theme.
The 2013 World Baseball Classic is scheduled in March for several venues around the world, including Japan, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Germany, Panama and the United States. This international baseball tournament was created after the removal of baseball as an Olympic sport in 2005. Since then, the classic has become grown to become one of the largest international sporting events in the world.
All seven of the new commemorative coins feature reverse designs by Canadian artist Steve Hepburn. These designs are surrounded by the inscriptions of "2013" and the face value of the coin. Also shown on the reverse are the artist’s initials of "SH" and the official logo of the World Baseball Classic tournament.
The commemorative coins are struck as legal tender of Canada. Shown on their obverse is Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Surrounding her portrait are the inscriptions of "ELIZABETH II," "CANADA" and "D G REGINA."
Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell case. A serialized certificate and a customized sleeve indicating the strike is part of the "Officially licensed coin program of the 2013 World Baseball Classic" is also included.
Specifications for the seven commemorative coins are below:
| Content | Weight | Mintage | Face Value | Diameter | |
| Celebration 1/2 oz Gold Coin | 99.99% gold | 15.59 g | 3,500 | $150 | 25 mm |
| Hardball 1/4 oz Gold Coin | 99.99% gold | 7.8 g | 3,500 | $75 | 20 mm |
| Baseball Diamond 1/4 oz Gold Coin | 99.99% gold | 7.8 g | 3,500 | $75 | 20 mm |
| Pitcher 1 oz Silver Coin | 99.99% silver | 31.39 g | 7,500 | $20 | 38 mm |
| Runner 1 oz Silver Coin | 99.99% silver | 31.39 g | 7,500 | $20 | 38 mm |
| Fielder 1 oz Silver Coin | 99.99% silver | 31.39 g | 7,500 | $20 | 38 mm |
| Hitter 1 oz Silver Coin | 99.99% silver | 31.39 g | 7,500 | $20 | 38 mm |
Order for the World Baseball Classic Commemorative Coins may be placed directly from the Royal Canadian Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or on the Internet at www.mint.ca.
Ok… $115 for a 1oz silver coin is getting a bit out there for me. $460 for a set of 4 is not where I plan on spending my cash. The only upside to them is the limited edition of 7500 each is being minted, but even at that the images are not that unique or at least not unique enough for me to pay over 3 times the bullion price for them. I think the RCM missed on this set.