2003 Canada: 25 cents Old Effigy (Dora de Pédery-Hunt)
BU (Brilliant Out of Circulation) Quality — Grade: MS-63 CHOICE
Description of the room
This 25-cent coin from 2003 belongs to the old effigy, a unique year that saw two portraits of Queen Elizabeth II minted in the same issue. With a mintage of only 15,905,090 for circulation, this variety is significantly rarer than its contemporary with the new effigy (nearly 67 million). The example offered here, graded MS-63 Choice , represents a remarkable state of preservation for this sought-after transitional coin.
The Obverse (Former Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II)
The obverse features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by renowned Canadian sculptor Dora de Pédery-Hunt , a design used on Canadian coins from 1990 to 2003. The Queen is depicted wearing the Diamond Crown, adorned with roses, shamrocks, and thistles. The legend "ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA" surrounds the royal bust, along with the date "2003" and the mint mark "P" (for plated steel). For an MS-63 Choice grade , the mint luster is well-developed and uniform, with a good "cartwheel" effect. Contact marks are minor and barely visible to the naked eye, limited to very slight dents on the high points of the relief.
The Reverse (Caribou)
The reverse retains the classic caribou design, created by Emanuel Hahn and used since 1937. The animal's head, an iconic symbol of Canadian currency, is surrounded by the word "CANADA," the value "25 CENTS," and the year "2003." In MS-63 Choice , all the details of the antlers and fur are perfectly crisp and well-struck, with no significant wear.
Technical Specifications
Condition: MS-63 CHOICE (Universal Brilliant / Mint State-63 Choice)
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Luster: The original luster is very present, intense and uniform over almost the entire surface, with a good "cartwheel" effect.
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Surface: Contact marks are minimal and few in number. A very slight dent or a fine scratch may be visible, but nothing distracting. The piece has been handled with care and has hardly been in circulation.
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Strike: Full strike with all design details perfectly crisp and well-executed.
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Relative rarity: With a print run more than four times smaller than that of the new effigy, this variety is significantly rarer in high conservation.
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Visual appeal: An MS-63 Choice grade coin offers an excellent balance of quality, rarity, and value. It is a very good choice for the collector seeking this transitional variety.
