Canada: Tall Ships - Three-Masted Schooner $200 Gold 2025 Proof

Canada: Tall Ships - Three-Masted Schooner $200 Gold 2025 Proof is the fourth coin in the prestigious "Tall Ships" series, issued annually by The Royal Canadian Mint. This collection celebrates the legendary sailing ships that made Canadian shipyards famous internationally and contributed to the country's rich maritime heritage.

Unlike the gaff topsail schooner (Coin 3), the vessel depicted on this coin – a three-masted schooner (tern) – does not have square topsails. Its sails are arranged in a fore-and-aft configuration, allowing for better upwind sailing capabilities. Between 1880 and 1920, hundreds of such ships were launched from shipyards along Canada’s east coast. With their large cargo capacity and minimal crew requirements, terns replaced full-rigged ships as the backbone of coastal trade in the late 19th century. At the time, they were the wind-powered equivalents of modern transport trucks.

The coin is made of pure Au.9999 gold, weighing 15.43 grams with a diameter of 29 mm, struck in proof standard with a mirror-like finish. The coin has a limited mintage of only 800 pieces. Each piece is delivered in an exclusive black collector’s case. The coin is guaranteed by the Government of Canada for its legality, metal purity, and authenticity, and it is legal tender in the issuing country.

Obverse features the effigy of King Charles III, designed by Steven Rosati, along with the year of issue and face value.

Reverse by John M. Horton depicts a starboard view of a sailing three-masted schooner, which played a crucial role in Canadian coastal trade in the late 19th century.