“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
Since Canada Day July 1st approaches, I saved this odd Cook Island tribute coin of a monstrously rare lead metal coin pattern that made quite a splash since it’s discovery November 20, 1977. It had been left in a nondescript plain package at Ottawa’s Department of Finance for 65 years.
Back in 1910, the Royal Mint produced three original trial specimens; one in lead and two in sterling silver. The Lead and a silver specimen was delivered to Canada in consideration for production under the Canadian Currency act of 1910 as a business strike while a second silver specimen was stored at the Royal Mint museum in London.
Why the government decided to shelve the 1911 dollar coin is not known. Canada’s first circulating silver dollar coin won’t make an appearance for another 24 years.
Over the years, the auction value for the silver coin yielded as high as $1,066,000 then settled to a more recent value of $735,000 with a PCGS grade of SP-64. 😲
Where are these three coins now? While one silver specimen is in a private collection, the second silver specimen is on display with the Lead variety in the Canadian National Currency Collection.
Now in circling back to this 2006 Cook Island coin celebrating Canada and it's first Non-business strike dollar. I must admit to jumping the gun in buying this without adequate research and assumed it was SILVER. The Silver version has the edge lettering of “1 TROY OZ .999 FINE SILVER”.
But it turned out as 0.999 Silver clad BRONZE!
It failed my CyberCurtainTwitcher’s magnet slide test as well to bring this lesson to home. It slid down too fast.
Lesson learned, and still is a pretty coin.
Mintage of only 35? ... This can't be right, or is it?
Canada’s first Business strike Dollar
My father was rather proud of this brilliant uncirculated coin and with good reason to not allow me to play with like most the other circulated silver dollars in his collection. ☠️ MS-65 grade?
A fine specimen with a sharp strike, full luster, hardly any toning and very few bag marks so I figured he paid a pretty penny for this, and it is mine to care for and hand it down to one of my kids.
The Latin phrase, “GEORGIVS V REX IMPERATOR ANNO REGNI XXV” translates to George V, King and Emperor, 25th year of reign.
I don’t know why my father got this coin but I’m glad he did.
Tossing in a Bonus Silver dollar
A circulating commemorative silver coin celebrating the coast-to-coast Royal Visit of King George VI and Princess Elizabeth II. It was a big deal then with the Mint also issuing a variety of medals including a bronze medallion to hand out to all Canadians.
Another well preserved coin that was locked in a bulky Capital plastics holder but recently switched it into a capsule. Sharp features, original luster and almost free of bag marks or edge indentations, likely gradable to an MS 64.
I hope you enjoyed this Canadian numismatic eye candy today.
I’ll be continuing this little Canada Day series through July 1st #hpud with more old Constitutional, Confederational, Junk silver, perhaps I should say, demonetized Canadian circulating silver coin currency. I’ll will be featuring other 1949, 1958, 1967 commemorative with maybe a few bullion tossed in, so stay cool.
Adding Silver and Crypto coins to my Stack for that rainy day!”
And thank you for coming aboard my post today.
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain 
References
Sources
2006 One Dollar Cook Island Tribute to Canada Silver Clad.
2006 One Dollar Cook Island Tribute to Canada 0.999 Silver
1911 Silver Pattern One Dollar Canada
1911 Lead pattern One Dollar Canada
1935 Canada One Dollar George V Silver Jubilee
1939 Canada One Dollar Canadian Parliament Building and the Royal Visit
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe
Jolly Roger Hanky Background by ModHanks.com
I work in a Health Unit. I am a Gothic Nurse. - Salutem laboro in Unit. Nonne ego sum Antiqua.
