2013 $300 14 KARAT GOLD COIN TERRITORIAL COAT OF ARMS NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

This 12th in the Royal Canadian Mint’s popular 13-coin series of 14-karat gold series featuring the Coats of Arms of Canada’s 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Description:

Royal Canadian Mint engravers have created an exceptional reproduction of the Coat of Arms of the Northwest Territories. Adopted in 1956, the Arms features a central shield diagonally bisected by a wavy line symbolizing the treeline which geographically separates the boreal forest from the Arctic tundra. On the left side of the shield, rectangular billets represent the region’s mineral wealth, while the face of Arctic fox on the right side represents the natural resources that historically drove exploration in the region. Across the top portion of the shield, a dark horizontal wavy line on light ground symbolizes the Northwest Passage through the jagged polar ice caps. The shield is crowned with a navigational star representing the magnetic north pole, which was located in the Northwest Territories prior to the establishment of Nunavut in 1999. The star is guarded by two narwhals, which face away from one another. The polished reverse field is engraved with the word “CANADA,” the date “2013,” and the face value of “300 DOLLARS.” The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Special Features:

• 12th issue in this bi-annual series
• Every detail of the Territorial Coat of Arms of Northwest Territories faithfully reproduced in 14 karat gold
• A unique and upscale keepsake that embodies the pride of the Northwest Territories—an important part of Canadian history and heritage.
• A beautiful gift and sparkling addition to any collection that celebrates Canada, the Canadian North, First Nations and Inuit heritage.

Packaging:

Coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell case lined with black flock.
Finished packaging size: 117 mm x 96 mm

Item Number:123621
Face Value: 300 dollars
Mintage: 500
Composition:14-karat gold
Weight (g):60
Diameter (mm): 50
Edge:Serrated
Finish:Proof
Certificate: Serialized
Artists: RCM engravers

Advertising Date: October 1, 2013
Launch Date: October 8, 2013


Complete Certificate Text:

Designing a nation's character

During the Middle Ages, any knight who went into battle needed to distinguish friend from foe and would paint identifying marks on his shield. Later, these markings began appearing on military surcoats and cloaks worn by royal messengers.
This is how the Coat of Arms was born—a design of heraldic symbols created to represent a monarchy, a clan, a territory or nation. Even Canada, a nation formed long after the Middle Ages, has a Coat of Arms—as does every province and territory within its domain.
The Coat of Arms for the Northwest Territories was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. It portrays the Territories as they existed before the establishment of Nunavut in 1999 which claimed sixty percent of its land, particularly those regions extending far into the Arctic.
Although the Magnetic North Pole is located in Nunavut, the compass rose at the top of this Coat of Arms represents that important navigational pointer with a gold narwhal on each side standing upright on a wreath in red and white, Canada’s national colours.
The shield beneath the narwhals illustrates the Territories’ northern geography. The horizontal section across the top symbolizes the white polar ice cap with a wavy blue line running through its centre to depict the Northwest Passage.
The lower portion of the shield is divided diagonally by another wavy line representing the treeline with the boreal forest in the green area below and the northern tundra in the red area above. The gold billets (left) and the artic fox (right) symbolize the wealth of natural resources that played a major role in the early exploration and development of the Territories and continue to be a significant source of economic prosperity.
The Coat of Arms of the Northwest Territories does not include any royal symbols (i.e. a royal crown), nor does it feature a motto. This is a rare distinction shared only with the Territory Arms of the Yukon.