The Royal Canadian Mint is delighted that The Ultimate, a one-of-a-kind one-kilo pure platinum coin, adorned with hundreds of pink diamonds from the famed Argyle Mine, sold for $1,261,250.00 CAD (including Buyer’s Premium; about $1,003,112 USD at the time of this writing), after heated bids were exchanged during a live auction conducted by Heffel Fine Art Auction House. This price surpasses pre-sale estimates of $700,000 to $900,000 CAD.
“The Ultimate is the highest expression of the innovation, skill, and craftsmanship of the people who continue to make the Royal Canadian Mint a global leader in the art and science of coin manufacturing,” said Marie Lemay, President, and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.
“It has been an incredible opportunity for Heffel to work with the Mint and help make history with the sale of The Ultimate,” said David Heffel, President of Heffel Fine Art Auction House. “This one-of-a-kind masterpiece is an artwork of the highest caliber and it has been an honor to place it in an outstanding collection. We look forward to following its historic journey for decades to come.”
The Ultimate is the crowning showpiece of the Mint’s newly launched Opulence Collection. It is also the Mint’s first-ever one-kilo 99.95% pure platinum coin. Polished to proof perfection, The Ultimate features a reverse design by Canadian artist Derek Wicks that brings the beauty of the cherry blossom to life on a 101.6 mm canvas. A total of 462 Fancy Vivid and Fancy Intense pink diamonds (6.5 total carat weight) from the Argyle Mine have been hand set into rose gold-plated, platinum cast jewelry pieces fashioned by Beverly Hills Jewellers.
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About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. The Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high-quality coinage products and related services on an international scale.
About Heffel Fine Art Auction House
Since 1978, Heffel has connected passionate collectors across the world with outstanding works of art, with sales totaling three-quarters of a billion dollars. With offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, and Calgary, Heffel has the most experienced team of fine art specialists in Canada and provides superior client service to both sellers and buyers internationally.
