2008 25 cents POPPY BU (MS-68) - SUPERB +

2008 Canada: 25 Cents Poppy - 90th Anniversary of the Armistice
Quality BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) — Grade: MS-68 SUPERB +

Coin Description

This commemorative 25-cent coin was issued in 2008 by the Royal Canadian Mint to mark the 90th anniversary of the armistice of World War I (1918-2008). It continues the tradition begun in 2004 with the world's first coloured circulation coin.

The design is the work of artist Cosme Saffioti, the same creator of the famous 2004 poppy. The coin features a vibrant red poppy, a universal symbol of remembrance for Canadian soldiers who died in the war, superimposed on a stylized maple leaf. The inscription "1918 ARMISTICE" was added to specifically commemorate the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.

With a mintage of 11,300,000 copies for this commemorative issue, examples graded SUPERB + like this one are cosmically rare. According to Numicanada data, the MS-67 grade is the highest listed in 2024-2025 auctions, with only 1 example sold. An MS-68 grade is simply not listed in public databases, making this example potentially unique in the world.

What makes this example exceptional: According to Numicanada, for the 2008 poppy coin, the highest grade listed is MS-67 with a single sale in 2024-2025 at $44.20. An MS-68 SUPERB + grade is uncharted territory, a coin that defies conservation standards for a coloured circulation coin. The probability of finding an example at this level is infinitesimal, considering the 11.3 million coins minted.

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. In keeping with coins from that era, the obverse is adorned with the maple leaf 🍁 at the bottom, a distinctive mark used since 2007. The legend "ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA" surrounds the royal bust, with the date "2008". The composition is copper-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel).

For an MS-68 SUPERB + grade, the original mint luster achieves transcendent perfection. The surface is absolutely uniform, without any interruption, and exhibits a shine that seems supernatural, as if the coin had just been struck. Contact marks are non-existent even under 10x magnification, and the fields offer exceptional mirror depth, reflecting light with an almost unreal clarity.

The Reverse (Coloured Poppy with ARMISTICE inscription)

The reverse, designed by Cosme Saffioti, depicts a vibrant red poppy, a symbol of remembrance for Canadian soldiers who died in the war, superimposed on a stylized maple leaf. The inscription "1918 ARMISTICE" was added to the design to specifically commemorate the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I. The words "REMEMBER" and "SOUVENIR" complete the reverse.

In MS-68 SUPERB +, the colour of the poppy is of transcendent perfection. The red is deep, intense, vibrant, with perfect saturation and an application of almost divine precision. The petals are exceptionally sharp, the veins are finely detailed down to the micron, and the stylized maple leaf in the background is crystal clear. The strike is perfectly centred on 100% of the surface, with crisp edges and optimal strike pressure that captured every detail with perfect fidelity. The "SUPERB +" quality indicates a coin of exceptional beauty that exceeds even SUPERB standards, with imperfections so minor that they are practically impossible to detect.

Technical Specifications

Condition: MS-68 SUPERB +

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

• Surface: Contact marks are non-existent even under 10x magnification. The fields offer exceptional mirror depth.

• Colour Condition: The red poppy is of transcendent perfection, a deep, intense, and vibrant red, without any chipping or wear. The colour application is of almost divine precision.

• Strike: Perfectly centred strike across 100% of the surface, with crisp edges and optimal strike pressure that captured every detail with perfect fidelity.

• Eye Appeal: An MS-68 SUPERB + grade coin represents the absolute pinnacle of perfection for this historic coin, a grade not listed in certification service databases.