As the Royal Canadian Mounted Police mark its 150th anniversary on May 23, collectors are sure to keep a watch for the release of any commemorative coins.
“This major historic milestone is a chance to reflect on our storied past and show pride in our RCMP family,” the RCMP writes on its anniversary website. “It also allows us to consider how we continue on the path to a more modern, inclusive and trusted RCMP.”
The RCMP’s Musical Ride will be holding a 150th anniversary tour between May and October with stops tentatively scheduled for British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
RCMP COINS
The RCMP has been featured on Canadian circulating and commemorative coins, with the most popular amongst collectors being the 1973 25-cent quarter.
While the Royal Canadian Mint struck 134,958,587 pieces, fewer than 10,000 of these pieces were struck with a die marriage consisting of the 1972 Large Bust obverse with 132 beads. This die marriage, combining the 1972 Obverse with 1973 RCMP Centennial reverse, created a rare mule variety coveted by collectors. Two key diagnostics exist for differentiating a 1973 Large Bust Quarter from a 1973 Small Bust Quarter. The beads on the Large Bust Quarter appear to sit very close to the rim – nearly tangent – while the beads are set a relatively far distance from the rim on the Small Bust Quarter. Also, the top of the apex in the letter “A” in “REGINA” on the Large Bust points directly at a bead, whereas on the Small Bust Quarter the top of the “A” points at a spot between two beads.