2008 CANADA PROOF $300 GOLD 14K PROVINCIAL COAT ARMS

2008 CANADA  

$300.00 14K PROOF GOLD COIN

PROVINCIAL COAT OF ARMS:

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

2008

Designing a nation's character

During the Middle Ages, any knight who went into battle

needed to distinguish friend from foe and would paint

identifying marks on his shield. Later, these markings began

appearing on surcoats, the cloth garment knights wore over

their mail. With time, the practice expanded to include the

cloaks worn by royal messengers.

This is how the Coat of Arms was born—a design of

heraldic symbols created to represent a monarchy, a family

or clan, a territory or nation; its general shape echoing the

shields where the custom originated centuries ago. Even

Canada, a nation formed long after the battles of the

Middle Ages faded into history, has a Coat of Arms—as

does every province and territory within its domain.

The Coat of Arms for Newfoundland and Labrador

features a white cross on a red shield. The cross divides the

shield into quadrants featuring two royal lions (England)

and two unicorns (Scotland). The two warriors represent

the Beothuk people, the aboriginal inhabitants of the

province. The motto, Quaerite prime regnum Dei means, "Seek

ye first the Kingdom of God."

The elk standing above the shield is a unique feature

because elk do not live in Newfoundland while caribou do.

This is likely due to the fact that these Arms were originally

granted to Sir David Kirke (Newfoundland's governor and

head of a private trading company) in 1638 and the

European artists only had elk as a reference. Lost for

almost three centuries, these Arms were reintroduced in the

1920s

Face Value: 300 dollars

Mintage: 1,000

Composition: 58.33% gold, 41.67% silver

Weight (g): 60

Diameter (mm): 50

Edge: Serrated

Finish: Proof

Certificate: Serialized

Artist: Faithful reproduction of the

official Coat of Arms of

Newfoundland and Labrador

Special features:

􀂾 First in a series of Canada’s provincial Coats of

Arms

Packaging: