Delicate rhododendron blossoms host three perfect Swarovski crystal dewdrops on this simply stunning, full color, pure silver proof! In combining the beauty and simplicity of multiple Swarovski Crystals. With its unique colorization process, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced a marriage made in heaven! Here we find exquisite Rhododendron. Blossoms bejeweled with not one, but three, Swarovski Crystal dewdrops. With a second technology, the Mint’s proprietary colorization. Thrown in for good measure! Minted in the purest silver. In the world, the mintage limit is only 10,000 – far too few to satisfy worldwide demand. A very fast sell out at the Mint was expected and has occurred. As with all previous releases in the. Swarovski Crystal Flora Program. The Rhododendron Blossoms Pure Silver Proof is the third in the Crystal Dewdrops Series. And eighth release in the Swarovski Crystal Flora Program. The Beautiful and Fragrant Rhododendron. In 1792, Scottish botanist Archibald Menzies, member of a four-year expedition to explore and chart the Pacific Coast region of northwestern North America, discovered a lovely woody shrub bursting with clusters of pink blooms in what is now known as the Discovery Bay area of Washington state, in the United States – the Pacific Rhododendron. The genus Rhododendron, part of the heath (also known as heather) family, is named from the Ancient Greek for “rose” and “tree”, and includes more than 1,000 species of plants. The Pacific Rhododendron grows along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to Californias Monterey Bay. This lovely shrub can range from 6 to 20 feet (2 to 9 meters) in height and features thick dark green oblong leaves from up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 3 inches (7 cm) wide. The leaves stay on the plant for approximately 3 years, even through the winter months! The Pacific Rhododendrons crowning glory is its clusters of frilly pink, purple, or white blooms. These corolla usually include 5 cup-shaped flowers of about 1-1/2 to 2 inches (4 cm) in length. A plant that is naturally sensitive to soil quality and temperature, rhododendrons were once difficult to cultivate outside of their normal ranges. However, modern plant developers have produced varieties that are quite hardy. With proper attention, many rhododendrons can become long-lived members of northern gardens. The Pacific Rhododendron, however, requires about 270 frost-free days a year in order to thrive, making it less tolerant of intemperate climates than some of its cold-friendly cousins. This species occurs naturally throughout its range, preferring disturbed habitats such as wilderness areas that have been deforested and the regions alongside roads and highways in which to grow and bloom throughout early spring. Stunning in its artistry, beauty and simplicity, this new pure silver proof in the Swarovski Crystal Flora Series. Ups the ante with a sparkling twist: three stunning, gem-like Swarovski Crystals! What’s not to like: 1. An extremely low mintage limit – only 10,000! 2 The Mint’s exquisite colorization (more on this below)! 3 A full proof finish, in which the mirrored background cleverly highlights the colorful beauty of the blossoms! 4 A high face value (denomination) – 20 dollars! But three (3) genuine Swarovski crystals! This is only the eighth Royal Canadian Mint coin ever to combine Swarovski Crystals. With color, and the third such coin to sport more than one Swarovski crystal! Taken together, these upgrades create the most unique coin in the series – and a work of unparalleled gorgeousness! We believe that this coin presents an entry-level investment opportunity in a relatively low-priced, precious metal proof. This coin is expected to sell out at the Mint very quickly! For more information about Swarovski crystals. Of Austria, please see the presentation at the end of this article. The Royal Canadian Mint leads the world with its proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The intricate detail, smooth gradients, and extreme precision of the technology create a stunning look on each coin. The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. This one ounce silver coin is 99.99% pure! A beautiful, full-color image of bouquet of Pacific rhododendron blossoms. Glistening with morning dew drops, represented by three genuine Swarovski crystals. The date and denomination are both indicated. A cameo proof portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England. In profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. REGINA (“Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God”) and mint mark also appear. The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer sleeve. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Proof with Color and Swarovski Crystal. 9999 Fine (Pure) Silver. Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut crystal glass products produced by the privately-owned company Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen, Austria near Zürich. Swarovski crystal was born when a Bohemian, Daniel Swarovski, invented. An automatic cutting machine in 1892. In 1895 the Swarovski company was founded when he established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens (near Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria). Here he could take advantage of local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding processes he had patented. Contains approximately 32% lead to maximize refraction. The Swarovski Crystal firm produces a wide range range of products, but is world-renowned for the incredible quality and brilliance of its crystal jewelry. In order to create a crystal that allows light to refract in a rainbow spectrum, Swarovski coats some of its crystals with special metallic chemical coatings. For example, Aurora Borealis, or “AB”, is one of the most popular coatings, and gives the surface a rainbow oil slick appearance. Recent developments include the 2004 release of a new, patented cut, Xilion, designed to optimize the brilliance of roses (crystal components with flat backs) and chatons (diamond-cut crystals). In 1792, Scottish botanist Archibald Menzies, member of a four-year expedition to explore and chart the Pacific Coast region of northwestern North America, discovered a lovely woody shrub bursting with clusters of pink blooms in the region now known as the Discovery Bay area of Washington state. This shrub was the Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum). The genus Rhododendron, part of the Heath (also known as heather) family, is named from the Ancient Greek for “rose” and “tree”, and includes more than 1,000 species of plants. This lovely shrub can range from 2 to 9 metres in height and features thick dark green oblong leaves from up to 25 centimetres long and 7 centimetres wide. The leaves stay on the plant for approximately 3 yearseven through the winter months. These corolla usually include 5 cup-shaped flowers of about 4 centimetres in length. A plant that is naturally sensitive to soil quality and temperature, rhododendrons were once difficult to cultivate outside of their normal ranges; however, modern plant developers have produced varieties that are quite hardy. Talisman World Coins and Medals has been in business for more than 20 years and is one of the largest world coin direct distributors and wholesalers in the world. The item “Canada 2012 Rhododendron $20 Pure Silver Proof with Swarovski Crystal Dewdrops” is in sale since Tuesday, December 11, 2012. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Coins\ Canada\Commemorative”. The seller is “talismancoins” and is located in Saint Louis, Missouri. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Circulated/Uncirculated: Uncirculated