The Royal Canadian Mint has now released all of the coin for their 5th numismatic catalogue for 2017. While not as frenzied as some previous months there are still a few interesting coins released, while most of the releases do form part of ongoing series or form a part of the subscription program. What follows is a quick summary of the coins released by the Royal Canadian Mint for May 2017.

We kick things off with the latest Canada 150 coins set in the 2017 Our Home and Native Land Limited Edition Silver Dollar Set. The set contains frosted proof versions of the entire 2017 Canada My Inspiration circulating coins, that include all the commemorative designs like the glow in the dark $2 and colourized 25c coins. In addition to these a proof silver $1 coin is also included in the set with red enamelled 150 on the reverse.

The most interesting release for this month is the Royal Canadian Mint Coin Lore: The Forgotten 1927 Designs 3 coin set. This unique set contains three 1oz silver coins each featuring a design that was intended for circulating commemorative coins in 1927, to celebrate the Canadian Confederation’s diamond jubilee.

However these designs never made it into circulation, and now the Royal Canadian Mint is releasing the 1, 5 and 25 cent coin designs as a limited three coin set. Each of these designs is features on a 1oz silver coin struck from pure .9999’s silver, and measures 38mm or 1 1/2 inches in diameter. With a limited mintage of only 5 500 sets available these sold out at the mint in no time at a price of $270 per set.

While on the subject of the 1927 Diamond jubilee. The 2nd coin in the Canadian Confederation Medals series has also been shipped. This massive 10oz silver coin measures 76mm or 3 inches features a reproduction of the 1927 confederation medal. It forms part of a 3 coin series that reproduce the 1867, 1927 and 2017 confederation medals on proof quality silver coins. With a limited mintage of only 1000 the entire series has long since sold out at the Mint, even at the asking price of $900 per coin.

Moving away from the Canada 150 program for a moment, we see the 2017 Dragon Boat Festival high relief silver coin. Featuring a colourized dragon’s head amid stormy waters, the relief on this coin doesn’t come close to the Perth Mint’s Dragon Coin, released earlier this year, but the brightly coloured elements give it it’s own charm. With a mintage of 6000 coins this piece is available to order for $139.95 each.

From there we take a look at the only gold coin to come out of the Royal Canadian Mint for the month. The $350 pure gold Majestic Elk Coin. Not to be confused by one of the other elk themed coins released earlier in the year, this coin is struck from the purest .99999’s gold, measures 34mm or 1.3385 inches and tips the scales at 35 grams or 1.235 oz. This beautiful coin has a very limited mintage of 400 coins and was selling for $2799.95 each upon release.

After that the Royal Canadian Mint is launching a new three coin series entitled : En Plein Air. The term is used to describe the act of painting in the outdoors, and as such the coins utilizer a brand new minting technology to reproduce the effect of textured brushstrokes of an oil painting.

The theme for the first coin is Springtime Gifts and depicts a portrait of the Canada 150 Tulips in full bloom, by Canadian Artist Elizabeth Sim. The coin is struck from 1oz of pure .9999’s silver and measure an impressive 60mm or 2.36 inches in diameter. The other two coins in the series are set for release in June and July. At a total mintage of 5500 these are being sold at $119.95 per coin, and are available individually or on the subscription program.

The final two coins in the Iconic Canada series of colourized ½ oz silver coins have also been made available to pre-order, and feature the iconic beaver and Canada’s Autumn palette. These coins are being sold at a price of $51.95 with a mintage of 15 000 coins each. Note that the Autumn Palette coin is only expected to be shipped by September 2017, despite already being available to order.

These coins are again struck from ½ oz or 15.87grams of 99.99% pure silver and measure 34mm or 1.3385inches across.

The Swarovski® crystal emblazoned 2017 Zodiac Series of silver coins is now in it’s sixth releases with the Gemini coin. A mintage of 5500 coins, adorned with one clear and another coloured Swarovski crystal, brings us halfway into this series at a price of $54.95 per coin. The coin is also available on the Royal Canadian Mint’s subscription program.

And while on the topic of the Subscription program, two further coins exclusive to that range have also been shipped this month :

The Peyto Lake coin from the Celebrating Canada’s 150th ½ oz pure silver coin series and the Tufted Titmouse coin from the Birds among Natures colour 1/2oz 5 coin collection.

Then I’d feel remiss if I didn’t give a special mention to a coin that was actually released at the end of last month, the Star Trek 1oz silver Borg coin.

A crown sized coin struck from 1oz of pure .9999’s silver, produced on the 30th anniversary of Star Trek : The Next Generation. It features the USS Enterprise locked in the tractor beam of a Borg Cube.

I feel special mention is deserved for the coin’s packaging, which resembles a Borg Cube itself. With a mintage of 10 000 coins the Mint is selling these for $112.95 each. If you are a Star Trek fan, then resistance is futile.