An elk proudly standing within its natural habitat is depicted on the Royal Canadian Mint’s latest release from its series of $100 for $100 silver coins.
Like past issues, each is sold at its legal tender face value of CAD $100, or about US $76. Each is composed of 99.99% pure silver and weighs 31.83 grams.
"Own this stunning coin in the groundbreaking $100 for $100 series," touts the Royal Canadian Mint. "Bold design. Expert craftsmanship. Highest-quality silver from the Mint."
Eight other $100 for $100 coins preceded this release. They include:
- 2013 $100 Bison silver coin, debuting in May 2013
- 2014 $100 Grizzly silver coin, released in September 2013
- 2014 $100 Bald Eagle silver coin, debuted in January 2014
- 2014 $100 Bighorn Sheep silver coin, issued in June 2014
- 2015 $100 Horse silver coin, first appearing in February 2015
- 2015 $100 Muskox silver coin, launched in July 2015
- 2016 $100 Cougar silver coin, appearing in September 2015
- 2016 $100 Orca silver coin, released in April 2016
These program coins had mintages ranging from 45,000 to 50,000. The Elk silver coin marks the lowest level in the series to date with a mintage of 30,000.
Designs and Coin Specifications
Designed by artist Glen Loates, the reverse or tails side design features a majestic elk on a plateau in a Canadian landscape complete with a mountainous backdrop and flowing water.
Inscribed above the scene are CANADA and 2016. The coin’s face value 100 DOLLARS appears below. The letters GL are seen to the left, for the artist’s initials.
Obverses offer Susanna Blunt’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II along with inscriptions of ELIZABETH II and D G REGINA.
Specifications for the silver coin include:
- Mintage: 30,000
- Composition: 99.99% pure silver
- Finish: matte proof
- Weight (g): 31.83
- Diameter (mm): 40
- Edge: serrated
- Certificate: not serialized
- Face value: 100 dollars
- Reverse Artist: Glen Loates
- Obverse Artist: Susanna Blunt
Ordering
2016 $100 Elk Silver Coins are available from the Royal Canadian Mint at mint.ca. An affiliate link to the Mint’s $100 for $100 coins is right here. These coins are GST/HST/PST exempt, and ship free. No more than three may be ordered per household.
An illustrated display box accompanies each purchase.
I have read that although these high face value coins are legal tender, they do not circulate and a person can not take them to the bank for their face value. If this is true, I think any report about them should note this.
According to the RCM, the animal depicted on this coin is a woodland caribou – not an elk as stated in this article.
The RCM has stated in the past that under Canadian law, merchants & banks do NOT have to accept these non-circulating legal tender coins (NCLT). The same is true of all Royal Mint coins available for the face value program coins.
-NumisDudeTX
Whoever at the RCM stated so, he/she was wrong. In addition to other distinguishing features, caribou have antlers that are quite easy to distinguish from those of elk/wapiti. The animal depicted on the coin’s face is, in fact, an elk and a very nice and anatomically accurate depiction thereof.
I forgot to mention that the Canadian caribou (not an elk) is on their circulating 25-cent coins for decades. That is why the name makes a difference here. The RCM Masters Club advance product email l received as a Platinum level member states this is the “$100 for $100: Woodland Caribou” silver coin. This is the official, correct description that should be used.
-NumisDudeTX
I don’t know what the official description is, but that’s an elk on the 2016 coin.
Why would anyone pay $100 for $16 worth of silver?