2002P Canadian 50-Cent Coat of Arms (Brilliant Uncirculated)

2002P Canadian 50-Cent Coat of Arms (Brilliant Uncirculated)

Face Value: 50 cents
Mintage: 14,440,000
Composition: 93.15% steel, 4.75% copper, 2.1% nickel plating
Weight (g): 6.9
Diameter (mm): 27.13
Finish: BU

The 50-cent coin bears the Canadian Coat of Arms. It honours the four founding nations of Canada: England, Scotland, Ireland and France. The inscription, "A Mari usque ad Mare," means "from sea to sea"; the second inscription, "Desiderantes meliorem patriam," means "they desire a better country." The current design was produced by former Royal Canadian Mint engraver Thomas Shingles and was first used in 1959. In recent decades, the fifty-cent circulation coin has not been widely used in day-to-day transactions, yet it remains popular with coin collectors.

In 2002, two special sets of dies were used to produce all Canadian fifty cent coins.
The regular issue moved the date to the obverse side of the coin, and changed it to read "1952 2002".
The "Jubilee" issue moved the date below the coat of arms, and changed it to read "1952-2002".

Design:
The obverse design features a bust image of Queen Elizabeth II and the phrase "ELIZABETH II D.G. REGINA".

The Redesigned Coat of Arms
Designed by C. Bursey-Sabourin and William Woodruff, the new reverse design added the motto "DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM" which translates to "They desire a better country" on a ribbon behind the shield.
The mantling shows a series of overlapping stylized maple leaves.
The arrangement of the English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock and French fler-de-lis was modified, and extends the width of the motto. The Arms first appeared on the 50-cent coin in 1937 and was updated in 1957 and 1994.