The new $1 Fine Silver Coin – Emanuel Hahn's Original Sketch: Parliament is 99.99% pure silver with an antique finish so it actually looks like an old coin.
Emanuel Hahn was an artist, sculptor and coin designer who has "left an indelible mark on Canada’s coins," the Mint said.
His Bluenose and caribou designs are still on Canadian dimes and quarters that are in circulation today.
So, the Royal Canadian Mint is "honouring history and making history" by creating the first thin 5-ounce coin and featuring an engraved representation of Hahn's original sketch for the 1939 silver dollar.
Engravers worked off the hand-drawn mock-up preserved by the Bank of Canada and recreated Hahn's preliminary Parliament art concept for the coin.
It was designed to commemorate the royal visit of King George VI and his daughter Elizabeth, the first visit to Canada by a reigning monarch.
Every pencil mark and fold line of the original paper document is etched on the coin's reverse side to honour Hahn and his artwork.
Instead of a raised relief that you see on most coins, this design was struck incuse to capture the true look of Hahn's pencil drawing.
Along with the antique finish and incuse strike, Roman-style lettering for "FIDE SVORVM REGNAT" — "He reigns by the faith of his people" — was used which makes the new coin look like it could be from 1939.
New $1 Fine Silver Coin – Emanuel Hahn's Original Sketch: Parliament.Royal Canadian Mint
King George VI, whose effigy appears on the obverse, was the reigning monarch at the time the design was created by Hahn.
His effigy is featured on this Canadian coin to match the 1939-dated reverse side.
The Mint used the historical effigy of George VI designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget.
The coin also has Roman-style lettering for the monarch's name and title — GEORGIVS VI D.G. REX — along with the year of mintage — 2024.
King George VI was succeeded by his daughter Queen Elizabeth II as the reigning monarch.
Effigy of King George VI on the obverse of the $1 Fine Silver Coin – Emanuel Hahn's Original Sketch: Parliament.Royal Canadian Mint
There is only a limited mintage of the new $1 coin with just 1,350 coins made by the Royal Canadian Mint.
But if you want to get your hands on this historic-looking coin, you'll have to pay the massive price tag.
The $1 Fine Silver Coin – Emanuel Hahn's Original Sketch: Parliament costs $629.95!
It can be bought online or at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
$30 Fine Silver Coin – Signs of the Zodiac from the Royal Canadian Mint.
Obverse of the $30 Fine Silver Coin – Signs of the Zodiac.
Coin with black rhodium plating and a silver maple leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint.
Coin with black rhodium plating and a silver effigy of Queen Elizabeth II from the Royal Canadian Mint.