1973 Large Bust 25-cents Specimen $

The reverse of the 1973 25-cent commemorates the centennial of the founding of the North West Mounted Police, which later became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A new obverse was produced, with a smaller, more detailed portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, and fewer rim beads placed further from the rim for this commemorative issue. However, a small quantity believed to not exceed 10,000 were struck with the 1972 obverse, creating two varieties for the year. This special variety is known as the Large Bust. A large bust can be easily distinguished by the placement of the beads - a large bust's beads are very close to the rim, whereas the small bust has a distinctive space between the beads and the rim.

Specifications:
Designers: Arnold Machin (obverse), Paul Cedarberg (reverse)
Composition: 1.00 nickel
Weight: 5.07 g
Diameter: 23.88 mm
Edge: Reeded
Die Axis: ↑ ↑
Mintage: 135.958,589