An oil gusher at the centre and scenes of turn-of-the-century oil work around it: this is how the 2010 gold 200-dollar coin tells of oil’s place in Canadian history.

The reverse, designed by artist John Mardon, is built as a montage: around the iconic plume are gathered elements of oil exploration, production, storage and transportation in Canada at the start of the last century. The Mint’s craftsmen achieved very crisp definition and relief, and a distinctive laser effect on the reverse sets the coin apart.

The story it tells began long before the great oil fields. Oil was an important commodity from the early days of North American settlement; large quantities of bitumen were found in Alberta, and in 1858 Canada’s first oil production began at Oil Springs, Ontario. The coin was issued as part of a Mint collector series.

It is struck in 22-karat gold — 91.67% gold and 8.33% silver — with a mintage limited to 4,000. The obverse shows Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Elizabeth II, portrayed uncrowned, as George VI once was.

For a collection of Canadian gold, industry and economy themes or the history of oil, this coin is a rare match of subject and metal: the story of the country’s resource economy struck in gold.

Proof quality means mirror fields and frosted relief, struck with polished dies especially for collectors, and the laser treatment of the reverse makes the contrast even more striking.

This coin is one of the items in the VPcoins catalogue, which brings together commemorative, circulation and bullion coins from around the world.