The BUZZ from the Royal Canadian Mint is all about the 2019 Bumble Bee and the Bloom coin. This is the latest rendition of the Royal Canadian Mint’s innovation in interactive coins with moving elements. When the moving Carousel coin was introduced in early 2018, it was an instant sell out and has since appreciated significantly in the secondary market. The coin is dated 2019 with a $50 denomination and weighs five ounces of pure silver. Adding to its collectability, the mintage is extremely limited to just 1,200. HST/GST exempt.

The Design:

The coin features engraved roses in the background, but the design is all about the large rose gold plated flower that rises up off the coin in the center and the yellow gold bee that actually rotates and circles around the flower as the coin is tilted. The effect is mesmerizing, and a first ever innovation in the world of coins.

The reverse image by artist Tony Bianco presents a close view of Canada’s most common wild rose and the floral emblem of Alberta, Rosa acicularis. The leaves and flowers of this native shrub fill much of the engraved reverse, where the proof finish is as luminous as a bright summer day. The image is topped by two sterling silver-cast elements: a rose gold-plated bloom and a gold-plated bumble bee. Firmly affixed to the coin’s surface, the five-petal flower is fully opened to expose the pollen-laden anthers that are a food source for pollinating insects. But the moveable bumble bee adds an interactive twist to this dimensional design; using gravitational force, the “flying” bee is able to circle around the rose whenever the coin is tilted from one side to the other. The reverse includes the engraved word “CANADA” and the year, “2019”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.