World 1st Coloured circulation coin: The Poppy Coin

Do you know what is the world first coloured circulation coin? Many countries mint have produced coloured coin not many of them goes into circulation. On October 21, 2004, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a 25¢ poppy coin. This coin features a red-coloured poppy embedded in the centre of a maple leaf above a banner reading "Remember - Souvenir". The red poppy stamped on the reverse in pressurized ink has an innovative fluorescent security coating. While some countries' mints have produced colorized coins for market to collectors, this is the first colorized coin in general circulation in the world.

The Royal Canadian Mint states that, with normal wear and tear, the colour should remain for a number of years, although this claim was quickly disproved. The colouration compounds are attached to the metal on a specially prepared 'dimpled' section of the coin, and seem to come off easily if deliberately rubbed. The coin will retain its full value even if the red poppy has worn off or been removed. Today. a fully coloured coin specimens is a collectible item and you still can find them in e-bay selling for USD$6.

Originating as a symbol of remembrance in early 19th century Europe, the poppy became its international symbol when Canadian Lieut. Col. John McCrae penned his timeless poem In Flanders Fields during the First World War. To commemorate the men and women who have given their lives to secure Canada freedom, millions of scarlet poppies are distributed by The Royal Canadian Legion and blossom on the lapels of Canadians each November.

Specifications

Date: 2004

Mintage: 28,500,000

Face value: 25 cents
Obverse: Crowned head right

Reverse: Red Poppy in center of maple leaf

Edge: serrated
Composition: multi-ply plated steel
Weight (g): 4.4
Diameter (mm): 23.88
Finish: circulation

In 2007, in the United States these coins were briefly reported as a possible 'spy tool' by some US Defense Contractors unfamiliar with the odd-seeming coin and raised espionage warnings until the situation was clarified. This is one of the story mention found in a news in FOXnews.com released 9 May 2007.

~The odd-looking but harmless "poppy coin" was so unfamiliar to suspicious U.S. Army contractors traveling in Canada that they filed confidential espionage accounts about them. The worried contractors described the coins as "anomalous" and "filled with something man-made that looked like nano-technology," according to once-classified U.S. government reports and e-mails obtained by the AP.~

Is there any coloured circulation coin in other country? I try to find anything other then this poppy coin but this is the only story about circulation coloured coin I can find.

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