In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!
Long SOLD OUT at the Royal Canadian Mint!
A large, beautiful silver
snowflake proof,
set with blue
Swarovski crystals - with a very low mintage!
Two of the most
popular and anticipated releases of the numismatic year are the
Crystal
Snowflake coins
from the Royal Canadian Mint. This year, we're proud to announce a
special bonus as well! There's not only two new silver snowflakes,
there's also an ultra-low-mintage
Gold
Swarovski Crystal Snowflake as well!
Not
all snowflakes are created equal. If it is very cold, they will
fall as "dry" powder. They may also take the shape of slender
hexagonal columns that look like tiny wooden pencils under the
microscope. The iconic star-shape people adore will only occur when the
temperature is around 5° F (-15° C) and the
ice crystal can grow large
and drift gently earthward without hitting any other crystals.
Scientifically
speaking, a snowflake is an aggregate of ice crystals
that forms while falling in and below a cloud. They are typically
hexagonally symmetrical and form only in certain below-freezing
temperature atmospheric conditions. This
simple yet dry definition belies the complex splendor of the
incredible snowflake, a true
miracle
of nature. Continuing its wildly
popular winter
snowflakes
from past years, the Royal Canadian Mint has
married two of nature's most
beautiful and precious minerals,
pure
silver and
Swarovski
crystal,
to
create
this breathtakingly beautiful (and rare!) proof coin! The light
refracted by the delicate, luminous crystals enhances the silver
snowflake design, proving
once again that in high art, form follows function. Whether in a winter
wonderland or minted in precious metal, the "six-sided dendrite ice
crystal" (aka "snowflake") is a beauty to behold!
For more information about
Swarovski
Crystals, please see the
presentation
at the end of this article.
Investment
Note
You can't help but
desire the
Crystal
Snowflake Silver Proof! Stunning in its beauty,
color, and low mintage,
it's a sure keeper! What's not to like?
* It is embedded with six glistening
Swarovski
crystals!
* It is minted in 99.99% pure
silver!
* It has a high face value
of $20!
* Most
importantly,
the
mintage limit of only 7,500
is not only very small by silver
coin standards, it also means that no more than that number of people
in the entire
world can ever own it!
* Previous Canadian silver proofs with a mintage
of under 10,000 (including the
2009
Autumn Showers Crystal Raindrop, which also has a
Swarovski
Crystal embedded in it) have
sold out at the mint virtually instantly, so we recommend not
delaying if you want to make this beauty yours.
Technology Note
The Royal
Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. The RCM is also
the only mint in the world to issue commemorative coins in a .9999
fineness. This one ounce silver coin is 99.99% pure!
Obverse
The obverse is
well-utilized
with an intricately-engraved, full-face image of a delicate snowflake,
which glitters with the Swarovski crystals set in it. The date is
also indicated.
Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen
Elizabeth II, 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 and denomination 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 box. An
individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.
Specifications
Country |
Canada |
Year
of Issue |
2010 |
|
|
Face
Value |
20
Dollars |
Weight |
31.39
g |
Diameter |
38
mm |
Mintage
Limit |
7,500 |
|
|
Finish |
Proof
with Swarovski Crystals |
Composition |
.9999
Fine (Pure) Silver |
Edge |
Reeded
(milled, serrated) |
|
|
Artist |
Konrad
Wachelko |
Certificate |
Individually
Numbered |
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).
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