This stamp-inspired one-ounce fine silver 50-cent coin marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria in 1819. Queen Victoria played a key role in Canadian Confederation and the development of the young country. She was such an important world figure, reigning for more than 63 years, that the entire era of her reign is still referred to as the Victorian Era.

The design on this coin was originally issued as a Canadian postage stamp in 1897 to mark the 60th anniversary (diamond jubilee) of her reign. The portrait on the left shows the young Queen at age 18 when she came to the throne in 1837, while the image on the right features a mature image closer to the time of her jubilee. The rectangular coin includes a deep blue colour, true to the original stamp, together with a perforated edge with serrations to give it the look of a real postage stamp. The obverse features a repeating maple leaf pattern behind the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.  

This is an uncut block of four proof five-cent stamps from the 1897 Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee issue. Each of the four stamps features two portraits of Queen Victoria: the first from 1837 when she acceded to the throne, and the second as she appeared in 1897. The initials "V.R.I." signify Victoria, Queen and Empress.  

This offering is a unique opportunity to own a rare piece of Canada's postal history from the archives of the American Banknote Company.