2005 GOLD CANADA $300 COIN NGC PROOF 69 ULTRA CAMEO "BRITANNIA" ONLY 1250 MINTED

315th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SHINPLASTER FRACTIONAL NOTE BY THE DOMINION OF CANADA (1870-2005)

OBV: ELIZABETH II

REV: IMAGE USED ON THE FIRST SHINPLASTER NOTES BEARING DRAPED AND ARMORED BUT OF BRITANNIA WITH WINGED LION POISED ON HELMET AND SPEAR RESTING ON HER SHOULDER

THE SHINPLASTER FRACTIONAL NOTES WERE CIRCULATED IN CANADA DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR WHEN SILVER VALUE DROPPED AND AMERICAN FULL VALUE COINS WERE DISPOSED AT A LOSS

THE FREE EXCHANGE OF CURRENCY BETWEEN THE DOMINION AND THE U.S., ALONG WITH THE GROWING DEVALUATION PROBLEM, CAUSED THE "AMERICAN SILVER NUISANCE" OF 1870

THE INTERIM CURRENCY TO EQUALIZE THE SITUATION WAS A 25-CENT NOTE NAMED AFTER THE CHEAP PAPER IT WAS PRINTED ON SUCH AS THE TYPE COATED WITH STARCH INSIDE THE SOCKS TO WARM THE SHINS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS DURING THE REVOLUTION, HENCE, "SHINPLASTER"

THE CANADIAN SHINPLASTER WAS "AS GOOD AS GOLD" SINCE IT COULD BE REDEEMED FOR GOLD IN MONTREAL, TORONTO AND ST. JOHN

THE POPULARITY OF THE SHINPLASTER KEPT IT IN CIRCULATION FOR OVER 65 YEARS

$300 COIN CONTAINS  60 GRAMS (58.33% GOLD & 41.67% SILVER) TOTAL GOLD WEIGHT 1.12 OZ AGW

50 MM IN DIAMETER

ONLY 1,250 MINTED!

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT