2000 25 cents Creativity/October BU (MS-63) - CHOICE
2000 Canada: 25 cents Creativity (Millennium Series)
Quality BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) — Grade: MS-63 CHOICE
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 back at Canada's past, while those of 2000 looked towards the future .
The "Creativity" coin represents October 2000. Its design, the work of artist Eric (Kong Tat) Hui from 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 at the top 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 copies was produced in BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) quality. The offered specimen, graded MS-63 Choice, boasts remarkable preservation with superior visual appeal.
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 depicts 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 inscription "ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA" surrounds the royal bust, with the "25 CENTS" denomination at the bottom. For an MS-63 Choice grade, the original mint luster is present, intense and uniform across almost the entire surface. Contact marks are minimal and barely visible to the naked eye.
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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On the left: an Inuit art boat, representing millennia-old indigenous traditions
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Top right: a tree in the Group of Seven style, evoking 20th-century Canadian art
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On the right: a wireframe landscape, 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-63 Choice, all details of this complex design are perfectly sharp and well-struck, with no wear.
Technical Specifications
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year | 2000 |
| Series | Millennium - October / Creativity |
| Theme | Entry into the third millennium |
| Obverse Artist | Dora de Pédery-Hunt |
| Reverse Artist | Eric (Kong Tat) Hui |
| Nominal Value | 25 cents |
| Composition | Copper-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel) |
| Magnetism | Magnetic |
| Weight | 4.4 g |
| Diameter | 23.88 mm |
| Thickness | 1.58 mm |
| Edge | Reeded |
| Mintage | 35,102,206 copies |
| Mint | Royal Canadian Mint, Winnipeg |
| Krause Number | KM# 379 |
Condition: MS-63 CHOICE
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Luster: The original mint luster is present, intense and uniform across almost the entire surface.
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Surface: Contact marks are minimal and few. A very slight impact or a fine scratch may be observed, but nothing distracting to the eye. The coin has not circulated.
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Strike: Full strike with all design details (Inuit boat, Group of Seven tree, wireframe landscape) perfectly sharp and well-defined.
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Visual Appeal: An MS-63 Choice graded coin offers an excellent balance of quality and value. The "Choice" designation indicates a coin that stands out for its superior presentation compared to the average MS-63.