Canada's brand-new coin features a dazzling pulsating effect
Canada’s newest collector coin isn’t just shiny — it also features an intricate optical illusion that makes it look like it’s moving.
The Silver Maple Leaf Fine Silver Ultra-High Relief Coin is one of the Royal Canadian Mint’s newest releases, and it’s a stunner. With summer winding down, the coin’s design pays tribute to the arrival of autumn. In the background is a mist-shrouded forest of tall conifers, while at the forefront is a highly detailed maple leaf.
Royal Canadian Mint
“New for 2025, rose gold plating joins the list of engraving technologies that come together beautifully on this coin, where the blushing hue alludes to Canada’s red fall foliage,” reads the Mint’s website.
But what makes the coin truly unique is the pulsating effect created by laser-engraved microscopic cubes positioned in such a way that they reflect light to the viewer, creating “the illusion of a shifting and never-ending view.”
The Ultra-High Relief Silver Maple Leaf design isn’t new. It first made an appearance in 2022, and due to its popularity among collectors, the Mint has brought it back with a new look. The coin is made with 99.99 per cent pure silver with contrasting rose gold plating. It weighs 31.39 g and measures 36.15 mm in diameter.
The coin has a face value of $20 and is currently being sold online for $174.95. A total of 8,500 will be available worldwide.
Royal Canadian Mint
The words “Canada,” “Fine Silver 1 oz argent pur,” and the purity standard of “9999” are also engraved on the reverse. The obverse features a rose gold-plated effigy of His Majesty King Charles III.
The Mint has also released several noteworthy designs, such as one shaped like the eye of a dinosaur and a pure gold coin embedded with a bright red coral.