The 14-karat gold alloy used here — unusual for a prestige Royal Canadian Mint issue — deliberately incorporates silver to produce a slightly warmer, more yellow hue than standard 18-karat production. The RCM introduced this bimetallic gold composition for its provincial series partly to reduce bullion costs while maintaining substantial face-weight appeal for the collector market.
Québec's inclusion in the series came with predictable political sensitivity; the province's relationship with federally issued commemoratives has never been uncomplicated.
The 14-karat gold alloy used here — unusual for a prestige Royal Canadian Mint issue — deliberately incorporates silver to produce a slightly warmer, more yellow hue than standard 18-karat production. The RCM introduced this bimetallic gold composition for its provincial series partly to reduce bullion costs while maintaining substantial face-weight appeal for the collector market.
Québec's inclusion in the series came with predictable political sensitivity; the province's relationship with federally issued commemoratives has never been uncomplicated.