2009 Canada: 25 cents Men's Hockey (Vancouver 2010) - Color Version
Quality BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) — Grade: MS-63 CHOICE
Coin Description
This commemorative 25-cent coin was issued in 2009 by the Royal Canadian Mint to celebrate the Canadian men's hockey team's gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games . This historic achievement was ranked as the number one greatest moment for Canada at the Winter Olympics in an online vote held by the Royal Canadian Mint and the Canadian Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, ahead of women's hockey (2nd) and Cindy Klassen (3rd) . Out of a total mintage of 19,000,000 coins for the standard version, only 3,000,000 coins were produced in the color version . The offered specimen, graded MS-63 Choice, exhibits 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 Susanna Blunt (initials "SB"), an effigy used on Canadian coins from 2003 to 2023. It depicts the Queen at 77 years old, without a crown, wearing a necklace and earrings . The legend "ELIZABETH II 25 CENTS CANADA 2009" surrounds the royal bust . For an MS-63 Choice grade, the mint luster is well-present, intense, and uniform over almost the entire surface, with a nice "cartwheel" effect. Contact marks are minimal and barely visible to the naked eye.
The Reverse (Hockey Player Celebrating Victory)
The reverse, designed by Burlington, Ontario artist Jason Bouwman (initials "JB"), illustrates a moment of pure joy: a hockey player raising his arms in victory, celebrating the gold medal . A stylized maple leaf serves as the backdrop for this emotional scene, and the Canadian Olympic Committee logo appears in the bottom right . The distinctiveness of this version lies in the application of red color to the maple leaf, paying homage to the Canadian national emblem . A distinguishing feature of this coin: the last "2" of "2002" is in relief on the player's leg, whereas it is engraved around it on most non-colored coins . The inscriptions " 2002 MEN'S HOCKEY MASCULIN " complete the reverse . In MS-63 Choice, the color is perfectly preserved, without flaking, and all details of the player are remarkably sharp.
Technical Specifications
Condition: MS-63 CHOICE (Brilliant Uncirculated / Mint State-63 Choice)
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Luster: The original luster is well-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. 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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Color condition: The red color applied to the maple leaf is perfectly preserved, without flaking or wear.
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Strike: Full strike with all design details (player, maple leaf, inscriptions) perfectly sharp and well-defined.
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Special feature: The raised "2" on the player's leg is a distinctive element of this issue .
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Visual appeal: An MS-63 Choice grade coin offers an excellent balance between quality and value. The "Choice" designation indicates a coin that stands out for its presentation, superior to the average MS-63.
