315th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SHINPLASTER FRACTIONAL NOTE BY THE DOMINION OF CANADA (1870-2005)
OBV: ELIZABETH II
REV: IMAGE USED ON THE FIRST SHINPLASTER NOTES BEARING DRAPED AND ARMORED BUT OF BRITANNIA WITH WINGED LION POISED ON HELMET AND SPEAR RESTING ON HER SHOULDER
THE SHINPLASTER FRACTIONAL NOTES WERE CIRCULATED IN CANADA DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR WHEN SILVER VALUE DROPPED AND AMERICAN FULL VALUE COINS WERE DISPOSED AT A LOSS
THE FREE EXCHANGE OF CURRENCY BETWEEN THE DOMINION AND THE U.S., ALONG WITH THE GROWING DEVALUATION PROBLEM, CAUSED THE "AMERICAN SILVER NUISANCE" OF 1870
THE INTERIM CURRENCY TO EQUALIZE THE SITUATION WAS A 25-CENT NOTE NAMED AFTER THE CHEAP PAPER IT WAS PRINTED ON SUCH AS THE TYPE COATED WITH STARCH INSIDE THE SOCKS TO WARM THE SHINS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS DURING THE REVOLUTION, HENCE, "SHINPLASTER"
THE CANADIAN SHINPLASTER WAS "AS GOOD AS GOLD" SINCE IT COULD BE REDEEMED FOR GOLD IN MONTREAL, TORONTO AND ST. JOHN
THE POPULARITY OF THE SHINPLASTER KEPT IT IN CIRCULATION FOR OVER 65 YEARS
$300 COIN CONTAINS 60 GRAMS (58.33% GOLD & 41.67% SILVER) TOTAL GOLD WEIGHT 1.12 OZ AGW
50 MM IN DIAMETER
ONLY 1,250 MINTED!
ROYAL CANADIAN MINT
