Canada just got a new coin embedded with real coral

Canada has a new coin that's sure to make waves: an intricately designed pure gold coin adorned with a piece of real coral.

The Royal Canadian Mint's latest release, "Celebrating Canada's Diversity: Strength and Abundance," is the sixth installment in a series that showcases the country's cultural and historical diversity. This time, the spotlight is on the Italian-Canadian community and its contributions to literature, music, science and more.

The coin has a face value of $200 and is made from 99.99 per cent pure gold, weighing 31.16 grams. Serious collectors in Canada will want to hurry to get their hands on this coin, as only 275 will be available worldwide — that is, if you don't mind the eye-watering $6,199.95 price tag.

Royal Canadian Mint

It's engraved with the Stella d’Italia, a five-pointed emblem that has represented Italy for centuries. In the background is a Renaissance-style pattern inspired by the oak leaf, which symbolizes strength, and the olive branch, representing peace and abundance.

A closer look reveals several miniature columns inspired by the Roman Colosseum, as well as tiny arches surrounding the two symbols that represent Canada and Italy: the Stella d’Italia and the maple leaf.

And in the centre of this stunning design is a real red coral, a symbol of good luck and protection against evil spirits in Italian tradition.

Royal Canadian Mint

However, if you’re concerned about the potential environmental impact, the Mint states that the red coral is responsibly sourced and not listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list of endangered species. It also wasn't harvested from a living reef.

Don't quite feel like splurging on a $6,000 gold coin?

The Mint also has a pure silver version of the same design for a much more wallet-friendly $149.