Delicate wild rose blossoms host three perfect crystal dewdrops on this simply stunning pure silver proof!

In combining the beauty and simplicity of multiple Swarovski Crystals with its unique colorization process, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced a marriage made in heaven! Here we find exquisite Wild Rose blossoms bejeweled with not one, but three, Swarovski Crystal dewdrops, with a second technology, the Mint's proprietary colorization, thrown in for good measure! Minted in the purest silver in the world, the mintage limit is only 10,000 - far too few to satisfy worldwide demand. A very fast sell out at the Mint was expected and, as anticipated, has occurred!

The Wild Rose Blossoms Pure Silver Proof is the second in the Crystal Dewdrops Series and fifth release in the Swarovski Crystal Flora Program.

The Beautiful and Fragrant Wild Rose
From the Maritime Provinces in the East, to the lower mountain valleys of the Rocky Mountains west of the prairies, and north to Nunavut, the wild rose (Rosa acicularis) punctuates the Canadian landscape with pink. Is is known by many names, including the prickly rose, the prickly wild rose, the bristly rose and the Arctic rose.

Blooming begins in June, but is delayed until July further north. During this time, the small, 3-foot-high (1 meter) shrub displays a profusion of elegant flowers that grow individually or in clusters of two or three. The young buds appear almost red before they open to reveal vibrant pink petals with a yellow pollen-bearing stamen at their center. As the petals mature, they gradually fade to white and will disappear altogether as the flower sets its fruit by autumn.

This fruit is known as a rose hip and is treasured by white-tailed deer and snowshoe hare alike. They are unable to resist this floral delicacy and nimbly chew their way around the dense armor of prickly barbs in order to savor its juicy flesh. Rose hips are rich in vitamin A and crude protein; they are an excellent winter source of the ascorbic acid form of vitamin C.

Native American (Indian) traditions also reveal a wealth of medicinal uses for this beautiful and hardy plant. The roots provide a key ingredient for remedies to soothe sore throats and coughs, and relieve sore eyes and swelling. The leaves and bark can be used to treat snow blindness. The pain from a bee sting can be significantly reduced by placing chewed leaves on the site.

The Wild Rose Blossoms Pure Silver Proof is the second in the Crystal Dewdrops Series and fifth release in the Swarovski Crystal Flora Program.

Investment Notes
Stunning in its artistry, beauty and simplicity, this new pure silver proof in the Swarovski Crystal Flora Series ups the ante with a sparkling twist: three stunning, gem-like Swarovski Crystals! What's not to like:
    1)  An extremely low mintage limit - only 10,000!
    2)  The Mint's exquisite colorization (more on this below)!
    3)  A full proof finish, in which the mirrored background cleverly serves as the pond in which the water lily rests!
    4)  A high face value (denomination) - 20 dollars!
    5)  Three (not one!) genuine Swarovski crystals!
This is only the fifth Royal Canadian Mint coin ever to combine Swarovski Crystals with color, and the second such coin to sport more than one Swarovski crystal!

Taken together, these upgrades create the most unique coin in the series - and a work of unparalleled gorgeousness! We believe that this coin presents an entry-level investment opportunity in a relatively low-priced, precious metal proof.

For more information about Swarovski crystals of Austria, please see the presentation at the end of this article.

Technology Note
The Royal Canadian Mint leads the world with its proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The intricate detail, smooth gradients, and extreme precision of the technology create a stunning look on each coin.

Purity Note
The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. This one ounce silver coin is 99.99% pure!

Obverse
A beautiful, full-color image of bouquet of wild rose blossoms, glistening with morning dew drops, represented by three genuine Swarovski crystals. The date and denomination are both indicated.

Reverse
A cameo proof portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God") and mint mark also appear.

Packaging
The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer sleeve. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.

Specifications

Swarovski Crystal
Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut crystal glass products produced by the privately-owned company Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen, Austria (near Zürich, Switzerland). Swarovski crystal was born when a Bohemian, Daniel Swarovski, invented an automatic cutting machine in 1892. In 1895 the Swarovski company was founded when he established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria). Here he could take advantage of local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding processes he had patented.

Swarovski crystal contains approximately 32% lead to maximize refraction. The Swarovski Crystal firm produces a wide range range of products, but is world-renowned for the incredible quality and brilliance of its crystal jewelry.

In order to create a crystal that allows light to refract in a rainbow spectrum, Swarovski coats some of its crystals with special metallic chemical coatings. For example, Aurora Borealis, or "AB", is one of the most popular coatings, and gives the surface a rainbow oil slick appearance. Recent developments include the 2004 release of a new, patented cut, Xilion, designed to optimize the brilliance of roses (crystal components with flat backs) and chatons (diamond-cut crystals).