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‘Ultimate’ Coin with 462 Pink Diamonds Could Bring $697,000 at Auction

It’s a platinum coin from the Royal Canadian Mint.

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2022

Howard Cohen

Credit: Image courtesy of The Royal Canadian Mint.

THE ROYAL CANADIAN Mint is about to auction “The Ultimate,” a one-of-a-kind, 1 kilogram platinum coin embellished with 462 ultra-rare pink diamonds from the world-famous Argyle diamond mine. Although it has a face value of CAD$2,500, the coin is expected to fetch as much as CAD$900,000 ($697,300) at the Heffel Fine Art Auction House in Toronto on May 31.

The Mint describes the coin as a masterfully engraved work of art rendered on a canvas crafted from the purest platinum, and adorned with hundreds of the world’s rarest diamonds. The 462 pink diamonds weigh a total of 6.5 carats and each diamond carries a color grade of Fancy Vivid or Fancy Intense. The coin is crafted of 99.95% pure platinum with a proof finish. The 1-kilogram coin is equivalent to 35.27 ounces or 2.2 pounds.

The rarity of the pink diamonds featured on the coin is amplified by the fact that Rio Tinto’s Argyle Mine — which famously produced between 90% and 95% of the world’s pink and red diamonds during its 37 years of production — officially ceased operations on November 3, 2020. During its long run, the mine in western Australia produced more than 865 million carats of rough diamonds, but pink diamonds represented less than 1% of that total output.

Measuring 101.6 mm (4 inches) in diameter, The Ultimate features a reverse design by Canadian artist Derek C. Wicks that brings the beauty of the cherry blossom to life and blurs the line between coin and jewelry art.

Credit: Image courtesy of The Royal Canadian Mint.

The pink diamonds add sparkle to the rose gold-plated rim and the petals of more than two dozen flowers, including the central bloom, where the gem-set blossoms form an exquisite clustered bouquet. The diamonds were painstakingly hand set by Canadian manufacturer Beverly Hills Jewelers.

Credit: Image courtesy of The Royal Canadian Mint.

he obverse features a cherry blossom field pattern and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Housed in a luxury cabinet-style case featuring a highly polished piano finish and silver hardware, The Ultimate comes with a welcome letter from the Mint’s CEO, along with a pair of gloves for safe coin handling.

The Ultimate headlines a new line of gold and platinum Opulence coins that pay tribute to the legacy of Rio Tinto’s Argyle Mine. “Treasure,” “Grandeur” and “Splendour” will also be offered in limited quantities.

• The 10 oz. Splendour 99.95% platinum coin has a face value of CAD$1,250 and a worldwide mintage of five.
• The 2 oz. Grandeur 99.95% platinum coin has a face value of CAD$350 and a worldwide mintage of 30.
• The 1 oz. Treasure 99.95% platinum coin has a face value of CAD$200 and a worldwide mintage of 400.

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”