1974 Canada $5 Olympic Commemorative
Off-Metal Mint Error
Struck on Experimental Silver Planchet
Intended for Uniface Essay Trial Strikes
PCGS MS 64
UNIQUE
$25,000
This 1974 Canada $5 Commemorative for the Montreal Olympics is a unique off-metal mint error. As noted on the PCGS insert, it was struck on a planchet with a silver fineness of 34%. The remaining composition is 65% nickel and 1% copper. The planchet was burnished or has an experimental finish. It lacks the luster of the regularly issued commemorative in .925 (sterling) silver. It was accidentally struck as a mint error on a leftover planchet which was used by the Royal Canadian Mint for the essay trial strikes. In addition to being the only known off-metal mint error in the entire Montreal Olympics Commemorative series, being struck on an experimental silver essay planchet places it in a league of its own.
Essay (essai) is the term for a trial, pattern, and experimental strike of a design that may, or may not, be adopted. Essays are often uniface test pieces.
The Royal Canadian Mint issued 28 commemorative sterling silver coins to help finance the hosting of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. There were seven series of coins with specific design concepts: geographic, Olympic motifs, early Canadian sports, Olympic track and field, Olympic water sports, Olympic team and body contact sports, and Olympic motifs. There was a single series of four coins issued in 1973 and two series each issued in 1974, 1975, and 1976. Each series included two designs used on $5 and $10 silver coins. The obverse of all the coins features the bust of Queen Elizabeth II.
The 1974 $5 Montreal Summer Olympic Commemorative coin featuring rowing was issued in 1974 with a mintage of 1,990,570. The composition is 92.5% Silver (sterling) and 7.5% Copper with a weight of 24.3 grams, a diameter of 38 mm and a thickness of 2.4 mm. It was struck in proof and mint state. |
| A Canadian auction house sold a group of Canadian $5 and $10 pattern uniface essay trial strikes on experimental planchets featuring various designs for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Most were struck on planchets with a silver composition varying in fineness. They were certified by PCGS as specimens and were from the estate of Derek Dawson, Former Director of Products and Logistics, and Chairman of the Olympic Coin Design Committee. Here are a few of the $5 pattern uniface essay trial strikes with different silver compositions:     |
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