Well over an ounce of fine gold, a high quality .23 carat De Beers Ideal Heart Shaped Diamond sourced from the Northwest Territories, and a low mintage of just 350 pieces combine to make this 2023 $200 gold coin one of the highlight collectibles from the Royal Canadian Mint.

The Design:

A heart-shaped diamond is one of the most difficult diamond shapes to achieve, requiring great skill and precision cutting to achieve its superior brilliance, spectacular fire and perfect symmetry from clef to point. The genuine diamond takes center stage within the coin design. The diamond is encircled with an artistic interpretation of the gemstone’s light performance, and features rising layers of various shapes engraved in Ultra High Relief.

No one knows its exact origins, but literary evidence indicates the heart diamond shape already existed in the 15th century. These complex-shaped, fancy cut diamonds were popular among aristocrats and royalty, such as Queen Elizabeth I, who was given a heart-shaped diamond ring by Mary, Queen of Scots as an expression of goodwill.

The obverse features a posthumous effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.