The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a welcome addition to any piggy bank on May 3, 2007 - a monster gold coin with a face value of C$1 million (U.S. $903,000) that it says is the world's biggest, purest and highest denomination coin.
Weighing in at 100 kilograms (220.5 pounds), the limited edition coin easily dwarfs its closest rival, the 31-kg (68-pound) "Big Phil", which was made to honor the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and has a face value of a mere 100,000 euros (U.S. $136,000).
A U.S. precious metals distributor has ordered three and there is interest in Asia and Europe, the mint said. At 53 centimeters (21 inches) in diameter and over 3 cm (1.2 inches) thick, the massive coins need a high level of hand crafting.
