Commems Collection Canadian: 2009 Japan - Canada Proof Set

I've written before how the 2009 Canada-Japan 80th Anniversary of Friendship $5.00 coin is one of my RCM favorites. I believe it has an attractive design and makes very effective use of allegory - something I always enjoy! The coin commemorates the 1929 opening of Canada's first diplomatic office in Asia - in Tokyo, Japan.

As a fan of allegory on coins, I really enjoy the coin's use of local flora and fauna to represent each country -- a white-tailed deer and maple tree for Canada (at right), and a shika deer and cherry blossom tree for Japan. The two deer stand side-by-side, to symbolize the friendly, harmonious relations between the two countries. To the left of the shika deer is seen the Japanese character "Wa" which translates into English as "harmony."




The $5.00 coin is 36mm in diameter and is 0.925 fine silver in composition (the same as the silver dollar in 2009!). It was a Masters Club exclusive coin in 2009 with 5,000 individual coins available to order from the RCM and 35,000 coins available only in special proof sets issued by the Japan Mint for its local customer base. MC members were able to order up to 10 of the coins from the RCM. The coin was released on July 22, 2009; its issue price was $47.95 CAD (the same as the 2009 regular issue proof silver dollar - 100th Anniversary of Flight in Canada).

Here we are more than 10 years after issue and I've finally found one of the proof sets at a reasonable enough price for me to pull the trigger and purchase one - I got it for just $45.00 USD! It was a Christmas present to myself! (One of two!)

The set came to me from a coin dealer in Japan and was in absolutely pristine condition.

In addition to the RCM $5 silver proof commemorative coin, the set also features proof examples of Japan's local circulating coinage in 2009: an aluminum 1 Yen, a brass 5 Yen, a bronze 10 Yen, copper-nickel 50 and 100 Yen coins and a nickel-brass 500 Yen piece. The local coins are the same as the ones that are included in the standard Japan Mint proof set; none are commemorative pieces. The Japan-RCM commemorative proof set is one of a series of sets that the Japan Mint has issued in conjunction with other mints to mark Japan's diplomatic, cultural and/or trade relationships with other countries. Among the other sets available are ones that include coins from Australia, France, Spain and the Netherlands; there are a number of others.

The COA in the 2009 Japan-RCM set is written in Japanese and English and includes messages from the Japan Mint and the RCM; a table listing the coin specifications is also included on the COA. I've included images of the Certificate below.

As some may have noticed based on other posts I've made, I enjoy collecting the various packaging options for the 36mm silver dollars I collect. I've extended this avenue of collecting to the 36mm 2009 Japan-Canada $5 coin proof set - it was always my intent to get one of the sets to join my individual Canadian-market coin that I purchased via ebay back in 2012 - I wasn't a Masters Club member in 2009 so I didn't have the opportunity to purchase one from the RCM directly!

I'm happy to have finally gotten the set at a great price -- and with free shipping from Japan!

Enjoy!

2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: Outer Sleeve - Front




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: Outer Sleeve - Back (Canada Side)




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: Coin Lens - Obverse




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: Coin Lens - Reverse




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: Lens Case - Front




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: Lens Case - Back (Canada Side)




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: COA - Front Panel




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: COA - Back Panel




2009 Japan-Canada Proof Set: COA - Inside Panels