1973 – 25 Cents Quarter Canada – Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commemorative Coin

The 1973 Canadian 25-cent coin was issued to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The coin features two main varieties of the obverse design: a “Large Bust” and a “Small Bust” of Queen Elizabeth II. The large bust variety, rarer and struck with the 1972 obverse die, shows the Queen with a bigger bust and beads touching the rim, while the small bust has a smaller, more detailed portrait with beads set farther from the rim. The reverse, designed by Paul Cedarberg, depicts an RCMP constable on horseback holding a bamboo-shafted lance as part of the “Musical Ride,” with the horse dividing the dates 1873–1973, and a maple leaf above. The coin is nickel, weighs 5.07 grams, has a diameter of 23.88 mm, a reeded edge, and was minted by the Royal Canadian Mint with a mintage of approximately 135.9 million for the small bust version and fewer than 10,000 for the large bust variety meant for circulation.