The Royal Canadian Mint last week unveiled its 2018 Silver Proof Set and the year’s unique silver dollar which commemorates the 240th anniversary of Captain Cook’s arrival at Nootka Sound.
Restricted to sales of only 15,000, this annually issued set has a combined 7 coins with each struck in 99.99% fine silver. The included 2018 Cook at Nootka Sound Silver Dollar features selective gold plating and is exclusive to the set. A standard silver dollar version without the plating is available separately.
In 1778, Captain Cook of the Royal Navy sailed his ship Resolution into Nootka Sound for the first time. The silver dollar offers an artistic rendering of the event. An image of Cook, enhanced in gold plating, appears prominently in the foreground.
The Silver Proof Set’s loonie and toonie also feature gold plating. Completing the collection are the 50-cent, 25-cent, 10-cent and 5-cent silver coins. Combined, the set has a bit more than 63 grams of silver, which is slightly more than 2 troy ounces of silver.
The complete collection has a total silver weight of just over 63 grams, or slightly more than 2 troy ounces of silver.
Specifications of Proof Coins
| Denomination | Composition | Weight (g) | Diameter (mm) | Edge | Reverse Designer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proof Dollar | 99.99 % pure silver with selective gold plating | 23.17 | 36.07 | Reeded | John Horton |
| 2 Dollar ("Toonie") | 99.99% pure silver with gold-plated inner core | 9 | 28 | Interrupted Serrations | Brent Townsend |
| 1 Dollar ("Loonie") | 99.99% pure silver, gold plated | 7.89 | 26.5 | Plain | Robert-Ralph Carmichael |
| 50-Cent | 99.99% pure silver | 9.25 | 27.13 | Reeded | Cathy Sabourin |
| 25-Cent | 6 | 23.88 | Reeded | Emmanuel Hahn | |
| 10-Cent | 2.45 | 18.05 | Reeded | Emmanuel Hahn | |
| 5-Cent | 5.4 | 21.2 | Plain | G.E. Kruger Gray |
Coin obverses bear Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
Price and Ordering
Priced at CAD $234.95, or about US $188, the 2018 Silver Proof Set is sold directly by the Royal Canadian Mint from mint.ca. An affiliate link to the Mint’s sets is right here.
Each coin is attached to a leather book-style presentation case and is accompanied by a serialized certificate.
