Good Health from Final Coin in Blessings Gold Coin Series


The Canadian Blessings coin series has been running since 2009 and has now produce eight coins in total for the set. The bullion coins have over that time proven to be rather popular and have become a bit of a surprise hit for the Royal Canadian Mint.

The 2016 release of the gold $150 coin will be the 8th and final coin in the Blessings series. The series is meant to espouse the proud heritage and traditional culture of Canada's varied Chinese communities. Each successive year's theme would impart a different 'blessing' unto it's owner, paired with the animal that would most keenly embody that sentiment from Chinese culture.

Canada 2016 Blessings of Good Health $150 Gold Coin Reverse

Canada 2016 Blessings of Good Health $150 Gold Coin Reverse

Previous years have bestowed blessings of good fortune, happiness, strength, wealth and longevity to mention a few. The 2016 gold coin wishes you Blessings of Good Health. The coin itself is designed, by Canadian artists Chris and Rosina Reid, and shaped to resemble traditional Chinese Paper cutting. The scalloped edge of the unique gold coin has 12 peaks and valleys, associating it with the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

The reverse of the coin is filled with wonderfully illustrated symbolism from traditional Chinese culture. The playful monkey is the traditional symbol of good health.Curious and intelligent he also represents the 2016 in the Chinese zodiac as the year of the monkey. Individuals born during the year of the monkey are said to posses optimism, confidence, agility and gregariousness. The very embodiment of a healthy thirst for life.

Canada 2016 Blessings of Good Health $150 Gold Coin Obverse

Canada 2016 Blessings of Good Health $150 Gold Coin Obverse

The monkey sits at the base of a peach tree, surrounded by eight ripe peaches and holding a ninth in his hand. The peach is said to have originated in China and in ancient folklore is said to be the sacred fruit of the gods. In the renowned 16th century Chinese novel, Journey Into the West, the Monkey King consumes immortal peaches in the hope that he, too, might gain immortality.

Completing the design are nine peach blossoms, echoing the nine peaches. The number 9 is again very symbolic and often used to convey wishes of good health and longevity. Associated with royalty in ancient times it was frequently used in Chinese imperial ceramics and artwork, to imbue the ruler with good health. The Chinese symbol for health appears just above the monkey's head, to the right. The reverse legend reads : “ 150 DOLLARS 2016 CANADA”, the Chinese symbol for Canada appears at the bottom right.

The obverse depicts the Susanna Blunt effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth with the inscription of “ELIZABETH II D G REGINA” and “FINE GOLD 99999 OR PUR”. The latter indicating the fineness of the gold to be 99.999%, the highest purity of any numismatic product available.

Canada 2016 Blessings of Good Health $150 Gold Coin in Box

Canada 2016 Blessings of Good Health $150 Gold Coin in Box

To further enhance the coins good fortune the mintage will be limited to 588 coins, the number eight is considered to be the luckiest number in Chinese numerology. As mentioned above the coin is denominated as $150. Struck from the purest gold available, the 22.5mm coin weighs10.4 gram. The Canadian Mint is set to release the Blessings of Good Health gold coin at $988.88 CAD each.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.