|
Government mints are often expected to be financially self supporting these days. Canada moved in early on the novelty coin business which had been previously going to quasi minting authorities (see below).
There seems to be some commercial shenanigans going on here. It's the 50th anniversary of the original series; yet, there're no 50 cent or 50 dollar denominations even though the 25 cent piece is 35mm in diameter (in the half dollar size ballpark, actually a little larger).
I'm guessing the rights to those denominations were previously sold, perhaps to one of those island-nations that don't even have their own circulating coins; but, sell themed coins in their name to novelty collectors as an export industry.
|