2013 Canadian Tiger Swallowtail – Butterflies of Canada Series – Proof with Color

SKU# OK121878E

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
(also available in solid pure silver -
contact us for more information)
okranchcoins@yahoo.com

2013 Canadian Tiger Swallowtail – Butterflies of Canada Series – Proof with Color

First coin in the brand-new Butterflies of Canada series!

Specifications

SKU# - 121878

Composition - silver plated

Finish - proof

Diameter (mm) - 42 

Edge - serrated

Certificate – serialized (serial numbers will vary)

Face value - 50 cents (a legal tender Canadian coin)

Artists - Celia Godkin (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)  

Description

With its distinctive yellow-and-black stripe pattern, the Canadian tiger swallowtail is one of our nation’s most recognizable butterflies. This is the first coin of a beautiful new series celebrating a species that is uniquely Canadian.

Special features

·        This is the first in the exciting new Butterflies of Canada series.

·        Each coin presents a beautiful mirror-like proof finish.

·        Also available: a fine silver coin featuring a colored engraved tiger swallowtail, sold separately.  Contact us for shopping assistance.

Design

This coin’s image was designed by Canadian artist Celia Godkin.  It features a colorful Canadian tiger swallowtail butterfly - a harbinger of spring - resting on a yellow dandelion. The reverse is engraved with the word “CANADA,” the date “2013” and the face value of “50 CENTS.”

Limited Mintage

10,767 sold (2013 Annual Report).

Packaging

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint branded maroon clamshell case lined with flock and protected by a black sleeve. 

This coin is an excellent addition to any collection and a striking gift for those who love butterflies, nature and Canadian flora and fauna.

Shipping & Handling

Fast, free shipping & handling via USPS First Class Mail to all U.S. addresses.

USPS Priority Mail & Priority Express Mail are also available for an additional charge

International shipping via ebay's Global Shipping Program.

Additional Information

OK Ranch sells fine collectible & investment coins, fine & fashion jewelry, and more gift items through our eBay store - click the following link to visit our store now:  OK Ranch on ebay

Silver U.S. Quarters for 2013

Lewisville, Texas – Most Americans believe that the U.S. Mint stopped minting silver quarters after 1964.  However, they would only be partially correct.  While not minted for circulation, silver quarters are still being minted each year by the United States Mint at San Francisco.  All of the silver quarters minted are “proof” strikes.  Proof strikes are minted using carefully prepared blanks and special high-pressure coin presses.  The fields (flat areas) on proof coins are polished mirror bright, while the devices (portraits and other design elements) have a frosted finish.  These special processes result in the beautiful cameo (or “deep cameo”) appearance found on proof coins. 

 

The number of silver quarters is tiny when compared to the cupronickel clad quarters minted for circulation.  Using 2011 as an example, the Denver and Philadelphia United States Mint locations together minted approximately 348 million coins for each of the five America the Beautiful Quarter designs issued that year.  At the same time, the San Francisco Mint location minted only 626 thousand silver quarters for each design.  The three factors of silver content, proof strike, and the small number minted result in strong collector and investor demand for silver quarters, and premium pricing.

 

The San Francisco Mint location also mints proof strikes of cupronickel clad quarters.  These are also beautiful and highly collectible coins.  However, the difference in appearance of clad and silver quarters is dramatic.  When compared side by side, the silver proofs are obviously brighter, whiter, and more breathtakingly beautiful than clad proofs.

 

Collectors will want examples of both clad and silver proofs in their collection.  Investors, however, gravitate toward the silver proofs.  The San Francisco Mint location minted approximately 1 million clad proof quarters for each of the five 2011 designs, still a very small number when compared to circulation strikes (also known as, “business” strikes).  The value of the highest quality silver proofs may surprise you.  Those graded PR70DCAM by PCGS (the largest and most respected third party authentication, grading and certification service in the world) may command prices from $50 to $100 each, even for very recent issues. (PR70DCAM is the highest possible grade for any proof coin.  It stands for, Proof 70 Deep Cameo.  Coins are uniformly graded on a scale from 1 to 70.)

 

OK Ranch offers silver proof quarters both “raw” (ungraded) and PCGS graded & certified.  Visit Coins Jewelry & More at www.coinsjewelrymore.com or OK Ranch on ebay at www.okranchcoins.com to see the hundreds of silver proofs offered by OK Ranch Land and Cattle Company.  Or contact OK Ranch by email to shop@coinsjewelrymore.com for more information.