2000 Canada: 25 Cents Creativity (Millennium Series)
Quality BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) — Grade: MS-62
Coin Description
This commemorative 25-cent coin was issued in 2000 by the Royal Canadian Mint as part of the Millennium Series, an initiative that marked Canadian numismatic history. In April 1998, the Mint announced a national design competition open to all Canadians to create twenty-four 25-cent coins, one for each month of 1999 and 2000. The 1999 designs looked at Canada's past, while the 2000 designs looked to the future .
The "Creativity" coin represents the month of October 2000. Its design, by artist Eric (Kong Tat) Hui of Vancouver, British Columbia, offers a glimpse into the arts across three millennia . It features an Inuit art boat on the left, a Group of Seven-style tree on the upper right, and a wireframe landscape on the right, symbolizing the evolution of artistic expression . The bilingual inscriptions "CREATIVITY 2000 CRÉATIVITÉ" and "CANADA" surround the motif, with the "25 CENTS" denomination on the obverse.
A mintage of 35,102,206 coins was produced in BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) quality . The specimen offered, graded MS-62, is in very good condition for this highly sought-after commemorative coin.
The Obverse (Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II)
The obverse features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Canadian artist Dora de Pédery-Hunt. This is the first royal effigy designed by a Canadian artist, used on coins from 1990 to 2003. It shows the Queen at 64 years old, wearing a circular diamond crown adorned with roses, shamrocks, and thistles, symbolizing the nations of the United Kingdom . The Latin legend "ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA" surrounds the royal bust, with the value "25 CENTS" at the bottom. For an MS-62 grade, the original mint luster is present, covering most of the surface, but may be slightly interrupted in some areas.
The Reverse (Creativity - Three Millennia of Art)
The reverse, designed by Eric (Kong Tat) Hui, illustrates the theme of creativity through three striking artistic representations :
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Left: an Inuit art boat, representing millennia-old indigenous traditions
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Upper right: a tree in the Group of Seven style, evoking 20th-century Canadian art
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Right: a landscape rendered in wireframe, symbolizing digital art and the future of creation
This unique composition, where Inuit art coexists with modern art and emerging technologies, illustrates the richness and continuity of artistic creation through time. In MS-62, the details of this complex design are sharp, despite very minor handling marks on the periphery.
Technical Specifications
Condition: MS-62
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Luster: The original mint luster is present, covering most of the surface.
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Surface: Presence of a few minor contact marks visible to the naked eye, mainly on the high points of the relief. The coin has not circulated.
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Strike: The strike is full, and all design details are clearly visible.
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Eye Appeal: An MS-62 grade coin represents an excellent compromise for the collector who wishes to acquire this historic commemorative coin at an accessible price while still benefiting from an uncirculated condition .
