25 cents 1873-1973 Mountie Canadian Coin - Articles on canadian coins - Coins and Canada

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25 cents 1873-1973 Mountie Canadian Coin

By thecanadiannumismatist    |   Monday, 5 June 2023

50 years ago, a one-year-only commemorative Mountie reverse design for the 25 cents 1973 was chosen to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the North-West Mounted Police later called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was established by the Canadian government during the ministry of Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald who defined its purpose as the preservation of peace and the prevention of crime in the vast Canadian North-West Territories. It was established in 1873 and acted as a Canadian paramilitary police force to maintain order.

In the aftermath of the violence of the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, the government amalgamated the RNWMP and Dominion Police, to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1920. The Dominion Police was responsible for federal law enforcement, intelligence, and parliamentary security.

The Design

The reverse of the coin was created by Walter Ott. Walter was an Austrian trained Master Engraver, artist, and designer who brought his skills to Canada in 1952. He was appointed to the Engraving Department at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa in 1964 and served as Chief Engraver and Director of Art from 1977 until his retirement in 1985. Of the more than 1,000 coins and medals he brought into production he was proudest of the Canadian Gold Bullion Maple Leaf he designed and modelled. He passed on November 9, 2020 at the age of 100 years.

The design shows a constable holding a bamboo-shafted lance carried by members on horseback on the Musical Ride. The lance is used as a decorative item and is flourished during trick and formation riding.

The history of the RCMP's horse breeding program traces its roots back to 1937. That year, Assistant Commissioner S. T. Wood headed the RCMP contingent at the coronation of King George VI. He was impressed with how strongly the riders' red tunics stood out against the black horses of the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry. When Wood became Commissioner in 1938, he ordered the RCMP to buy only black horses. It soon became clear the RCMP would need to establish its own breeding program to meet this requirement, which began in 1939.

The Varieties

That year, 134,958,587 1973 quarters were produced for circulation by the Royal Canadian Mint. Proof and Specimen were also made. This coins was very popular and many households kept at least on example piece of history. The change of design (previously a caribou), some retooling of the obverse die was required to ensure proper metal flow in striking up the reverse details. To achieve the fine details on the reverse and ensure an ideal strike on both sides of the coin, mint officials reduced the size of Queen Elizabeth II's obverse portrait.

In shrinking the obverse portrait of the queen, the mint also added greater refinement to her hair detail. The ornamental beading on the obverse was also modified, with a reduction in the number of beads decreasing from 132 to only 120, and the beading feature was brought slightly farther away from the rim. Virtually all 1973 RCMP Centennial Canadian Quarters were struck with the smaller bust on the obverse, as prescribed by the mint that year for all 1973 Quarters. However, not all were struck with the Small Bust obverse.

By cons, a small amount of 25 cents coins were produced in 1973 with the obverse of 1972, creating 2 varieties: Small Bust and Large Bust (can be considered a mule). According to the Charlton and PCGS, the amount of coins with the Large Bust does not exceed 10 000.

Both varieties exist in circulated, proof-like and specimen finishes.

25 cents 1973 price guide and values