5 Dollars - Elizabeth II October Birthstone

Part of the RCM's long-running birthstone series, the October issue corresponds to tourmaline — a gemstone that replaced opal as October's official birthstone in the United States in 2002 following a revision by the American Gem Trade Association, though opal retains that designation in many other countries. The RCM has leaned consistently on Swarovski crystal elements to simulate the stone rather than setting genuine gem material, keeping production costs manageable across what is effectively a twelve-part annual collectible program.