Canadian mint launches new gold coin

A new 14-carat gold collector's coin that incorporates Swarovski crystals into the design has been released by the Royal Canadian Mint.

There have only been a limited number of 1,000 of the coins minted and they are retailing at C$1,520.95 (£719).

The coin was designed by engraver Konrad Wachelko and has a face value of C$300 (£142). The crystals on the coin are embedded and form the shape of a snowflake.

Along with the crystal snowflake coin, the collection includes two other coins from the Lunar series. These are a 99.99 per cent pure gold coin that commemorates lost treasure discovery, and a 25-cent coin that celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.

Ian E Bennett, president and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint, remarked: "The crystal snowflake coin represents another innovative first for the mint, helping us maintain our reputation as a world leader in the minting of collector coins."

He added: "The Lunar series reflects our commitment to satisfying our collectors' desire for continuity in our collections."

The Royal Canadian Mint was established in 1908 and is now a "for-profit crown corporation with a mandate to deliver a fair return on investment to its sole shareholder, the government of Canada", according to its website.