This triangle-shaped silver half dollar proof features the Mint’s patented color enamel technology
In 2005 the Royal Canadian Mint introduced their enamel-effect technology on the red-enameled Canada Flag Silver Dollar. This coin sold out instantly at the mint (as have all subsequent enameled issues) and now trades for several multiples of its release price, having proven to be a great investment.
There’s also the shape of this coin to consider. This is the very first triangular Canadian coin. As we have seen in the past, any first for the Royal Canadian mint usually means demand will be great and the coin will sell out quickly. What’s more, odd- and unusually-shaped coins are very hot, including the previous Canadian releases. The 2006 Square Beaver $3 Silver Proof now trades in the $250 to $300 range, and the 2007 Chinese Square-Hole $8 Silver Proof is valued at about 2-½ times its release price. Taking all of these factors into account, the Milk Delivery Dairy Token Half Dollar Silver Proof seems like a sure winner!
Technology Note
The Milk Delivery Dairy Token Half Dollar Silver Proof features the Royal Canadian Mint’s patented enamel effect technology. This proprietary technique applies deep, rich, semi-opaque colors to the coin, while the glaze over these hues creates the effect of real enamel. The green on this triangular coin replicates the color found on many of the original dairy tokens!
There was a time when most people did not go to the grocery store to purchase their milk… in the good old days the dairy delivered straight to one’s door Many adults today have childhood memories of a uniformed milkman placing bottles of fresh milk and other dairy products on the front porch and collecting the empty bottles their mother had put out for exchange.
But there was something else the milkman collected – dairy tokens. From the late 19th century to the 1960′s, customers could buy dairy tokens to “pay” for the milk or cream that was delivered.
Milk delivery tokens were used in nearly every state of the Union and all ten Canadian provinces. Many dairies had their own custom tokens, while others used generic ones. These tokens were valued at such quantities as ½ or 1 pint; 1, 2 or 3 quarts; or ½ or 1 gallon. In addition, they specified whether the token was for cream or milk, and for what kind.
Source: Talisman Coins
Coin legislation entitled NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act (S. 2159) should receive the President’s signature in short order.
I received this email from PCGS today:
Two reverse types have been discovered on uncirculated 2008-W American Eagle silver coins sold by the Mint directly to collectors, but Numismatic Guaranty Corp. says it is not yet known whether there are two types of reverses for the regular bullion coins sold through the Mint’s national authorized purchaser network.