When the first Murano glass coin was introduced in 2011, it had a mintage of just 5,000, and it quickly appreciated in value to over $800 in the secondary market. This 2018 $20 Fine Silver Murano glass Holiday Reindeer coin marks the first time since 2011 that this series return to the original mintage of just 5,000. Celebrate the holiday season with this beautiful low mintage coin, featuring a hand-made Murano glass reindeer pulling Santa’s magical sleigh over a peaceful town on Christmas Eve. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse design by Canadian artist Anna Bucciarelli takes to the skies on Christmas Eve to capture the magic of the holiday season. The snow-blanketed setting below features colour over engraving that recreates mountains, tall evergreens and a row of homes. As night falls, indoor lighting casts a warm glow from within, while just beyond a front door lies a snowman that hints at the presence of children. But the viewer’s gaze naturally gravitates towards the “sky” that fills most of the field, where precision-engraved snowflakes are as unique and intricate as their real-life counterparts. Laden with toys and gifts, Santa’s red and gold-coloured sleigh makes its way through this gentle snowfall, pulled by an exquisite Murano glass reindeer. The colourful reindeer-shaped piece is handcrafted by Italian glassmakers, and is unique to each coin. No easy feat on such a small scale, this merry Murano reindeer features intricate multi-coloured detail, from the dark-coloured hooves, to the bell-dotted harness that famously jingles on this magical night, and to the lighter coloured antlers. The reverse also features the engraved word “CANADA”, the year “2018” and the face value “20 DOLLARS”.
As each Murano glass holiday reindeer has been fashioned by hand, every coin is unique!
Murano Glass:
Murano glass dates back to 8th century Rome. At the time, glass was a luxury reserved strictly for the rich, and glassmakers enjoyed an aristocratic status. This hand-crafted holiday reindeer coin continues the rich traditions of the past, combining the finest glassmaking art with the modern workmanship of the Royal Canadian Mint.
