2009 25 cents MEN'S HOCKEY COLORED ENHANCED BU (MS-64) - CHOICE +

2009 Canada: 25 cents Men's Hockey (Vancouver 2010) - Colored "Raised 2" Version
BU (Brilliant Uncirculated) Grade — Grade: MS-64 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 Olympics. This historic achievement was ranked as the number one greatest moment in Canadian Winter Olympic history in an online vote held by the Royal Canadian Mint and the Canadian Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. What makes this particular coin exceptionally rare is the variety known as "RAISED 2", where the last "2" of "2002" is located directly on the player's leg without an outline, a distinctive feature that sets it apart from the standard version. With a mintage of only 200,000 copies for this variety, it is approximately 100 times rarer than the standard colored version (3 million) and 110 times rarer than the uncolored version (22 million). The offered coin, graded MS-64 Choice +, represents the pinnacle of quality for this highly sought-after variety.

The Obverse (Queen Elizabeth II Effigy)

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. The legend "ELIZABETH II 25 CENTS CANADA 2009" surrounds the royal bust. For an MS-64 Choice + grade, the mint luster is brilliant, intense, and perfectly uniform across the entire surface, with a superb "cartwheel" effect. Contact marks are virtually absent to the naked eye; only microscopic imperfections may be detected under magnification, with nothing distracting the eye.

The Reverse (Hockey Player with "Raised 2")

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 with applied red color serves as a backdrop to this emotional scene. The distinctive feature of this rare variety is that the last "2" of "2002" is raised on the player's leg, without an outline, whereas it is normally engraved around the leg on standard versions. This particularity makes the coin immediately identifiable and highly sought after by collectors. The inscriptions " 2002 MEN'S HOCKEY MASCULIN " complete the reverse. In MS-64 Choice +, the color is perfectly preserved, without flaking, and all details of the player, including the famous "Raised 2", are perfectly sharp.

Technical Specifications

Condition: MS-64 CHOICE + (Brilliant Uncirculated / Mint State-64 Choice +)

• Luster: The original luster is brilliant, intense, and perfectly uniform over 100% of the surface, with a superb "cartwheel" effect.

• Surface: Contact marks are absent to the naked eye. At most, a tiny minor mark might be found under 10x magnification, but nothing significant. The fields are clear and without distraction.

• Color Condition: The red color applied to the maple leaf is perfectly preserved, without flaking or wear.

• Strike: Perfectly centered and full strike with all design details (player, maple leaf, inscriptions) exceptionally sharp.

• Rare Feature: The "Raised 2" on the player's leg is the distinctive element of this variety, with a mintage of only 200,000 copies.

• Visual Appeal: An MS-64 Choice + graded coin represents the ultimate for this extremely rare variety. The "Choice +" designation indicates a coin that exceeds the average MS-64 due to its harmonious balance and superior presentation.