2000 25 cents Creativity/October BU (MS-65) - GEM

2000 Canada: 25 cents Creativity (Millennium Series)
Quality BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) — Grade: MS-65 GEM

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 the 2000 designs looked towards 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 copies was produced in BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) quality. The offered specimen, graded MS-65 GEM, represents an exceptional state of preservation that places it among the very best coins of this issue.

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 "25 CENTS" denomination at the bottom. For an MS-65 GEM grade, the original mint luster is dazzling, of remarkable intensity, and perfectly uniform across the entire surface. Contact marks are completely absent to the naked eye, and even with a 10x magnifying glass, only tiny microscopic imperfections can be detected.

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:

• On the left: an Inuit art boat, representing millennia-old indigenous traditions

• On the upper right: a Group of Seven-style tree, evoking 20th-century Canadian art

• 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 throughout time. In MS-65 GEM, all details of this complex design are stunningly sharp, with a full-strike. The "GEM" quality indicates a coin of exceptional beauty that stands out significantly from lower grades due to its perfect balance and impeccable presentation.

Technical Specifications

Condition: MS-65 GEM

• Luster: The original mint luster is dazzling, of remarkable intensity, and perfectly uniform across 100% of the surface.

• Surface: Contact marks are completely absent to the naked eye. The fields are impeccably clear, without any visual distractions.

• Strike: Perfectly centered and complete strike with all design details (Inuit boat, Group of Seven tree, wireframe landscape) of exceptional sharpness.

• Visual Appeal: An MS-65 GEM grade coin represents the pinnacle for this commemorative coin from the Millennium Series. It is an exceptional piece of rare beauty that will find its place in the most prestigious collections.