2004-P 25 cents Color Poppy BU (MS-68) - SUPERB +

2004-P Canada: 25 cents Poppy - World's First Colored Circulation Coin
BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) Quality — Grade: MS-68 SUPERB +

Coin Description

This 2004 25-cent coin is simply historic! It is the world's first colored circulation coin, issued by the Royal Canadian Mint to commemorate Remembrance Day. Its innovative design, featuring a bright red poppy, not only captivated collectors but also created a true international anecdote: in 2007, it became the subject of a U.S. Department of Defense alert, as military contractors mistook it for a "nanotechnology" spy device!

With a mintage of 28,500,000 copies for the colored version, specimens in SUPERB + quality like this one are mythically rare. An MS-68 grade is so exceptional for this issue that it is probably unique in the world. This is the kind of coin that never appears on the market and that makes the reputation of the greatest institutional collections.

The Obverse (Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II)

The obverse features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt, an effigy used on Canadian coins from 2003 to 2023. The legend "ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA" surrounds the royal bust, with the date "2004" and the mint mark "P" (for plated steel) located below the effigy.

For an MS-68 SUPERB + grade, the original mint luster achieves absolute perfection. The surface is exceptionally uniform, without any interruption, and presents a sheen that seems almost supernatural. Contact marks are non-existent even under 10x magnification, and the fields offer remarkable mirror depth, reflecting light with crystal clarity.

The Reverse (Colored Poppy)

The reverse, designed by artist Cosme Saffioti, depicts a vibrant red poppy, symbolizing the remembrance of Canadian soldiers who died in war, superimposed on a stylized maple leaf. It includes the inscription "CANADA," the date "2004," the value "25 CENTS," and the words "REMEMBER" and "SOUVENIR." The color was applied using a high-speed computerized process patented by the Royal Canadian Mint.

In MS-68 SUPERB +, the poppy's color is absolutely perfect. The red is deep, intense, vibrant, with perfect saturation and surgically precise application. The petals are exceptionally sharp, the veins are finely detailed, and the stylized maple leaf in the background is crystal clear. The strike is perfectly centered on 100% of the surface, with sharp edges and optimal strike pressure. The "SUPERB +" quality indicates a coin of rare beauty, without any imperfections, representing the absolute pinnacle of what can be achieved for this issue.

Technical Specifications

Condition: MS-68 SUPERB +

• Luster: The original mint luster achieves absolute perfection, with exceptional intensity and perfect uniformity on 100% of the surface.

• Surface: Contact marks are non-existent even under 10x magnification. The fields offer remarkable mirror depth, reflecting light with crystal clarity.

• Color Condition: The red poppy is absolutely perfect, a deep, intense, and vibrant red, without any flaking or wear. The color application is surgically precise.

• Strike: Strike is perfectly centered on 100% of the surface, with sharp edges and optimal strike pressure.

• Visual Appeal: An MS-68 SUPERB + grade coin represents the absolute pinnacle for this historic coin, the very first colored circulation coin in the world. It is an exceptionally rare piece, probably unique in the world, of unparalleled beauty, which will find its place in the most prestigious collections worldwide.