1973 Canada Elizabeth II, Royal Canadian Mounted Police 25 Cents Proof (Small bust)

1973 Canada Elizabeth II, Royal Canadian Mounted Police 25 Cents Proof (Small bust) : présentation (texte en anglais)

The reverse, designed by Paul Cedergren, depicts a Mountie in full dress uniform astride a galloping horse, rendered in dynamic profile with the rider's flat brimmed campaign hat and lance pennon conveying both motion and ceremony, while the legend and denomination frame the scene in balanced proportion. The obverse carries the second portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin, showing the monarch wearing the tiara. Struck in pure nickel by the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, the coin retains the durable, slightly grey lustre typical of Canadian nickel coinage of the reign. Collectors pay special attention to the 2 obverse varieties, distinguished by the size of the bust and the count of denticles around the rim, with the more common small bust showing 120 beads and the scarcer large bust, struck from an older obverse die, showing 132 beads. Its patriotic theme, the enduring popularity of the Mountie as a symbol of Canada, and the challenge of identifying its varieties make this type a cornerstone of any collection of modern Canadian commemorative coinage.