What Is a Sundial? Canada's Most Unique Silver Coin Explained
A sundial is humanity's oldest known timekeeping device — older than mechanical clocks, older than hourglasses, older than almost every instrument we've ever used to measure time. Rooted in the movement of the sun itself, sundials have been used in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and across Asia for thousands of years, and they remain a beloved symbol of craftsmanship, science, and the passage of time.
The Royal Canadian Mint turned that legacy into something extraordinary: a 1 oz pure silver coin that is not just a tribute to the sundial — it actually is one.
How Does a Sundial Work?
A sundial tells time using sunlight and shadow. It has two main components: a flat plate marked with hour lines and a gnomon — a raised, angled pointer that casts a shadow. As the earth rotates throughout the day, the sun's position in the sky changes, and the shadow cast by the gnomon moves across the hour lines, indicating the local solar time.
The gnomon must be angled toward true north and set at an angle equal to the local latitude to work correctly. This is why sundials are location-specific: a sundial calibrated for mid-northern latitudes — like those across most of Canada — will keep accurate solar time in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, or Calgary, but would need adjustment closer to the equator or the poles.
Solar time differs slightly from clock time due to longitude within time zones and the earth's elliptical orbit, but a properly positioned sundial is a remarkably precise instrument for its age — one that requires no battery, no signal, and no winding.
The Royal Canadian Mint's Sundial Coin: A World First
When the Royal Canadian Mint introduced the Sundial coin, they described it as a "Mint first" — and it genuinely was. For the first time, a collector coin's reverse was engineered to function as a real sundial, not just depict one.
The reverse features an elaborately engraved silver base designed by Canadian artist Anna Bucciarelli, adorned with an acanthus leaf motif and Roman numerals indicating the hours around the edge. Standing upright at the coin's centre is a cast gnomon — and when placed on a flat surface in direct sunlight, pointed toward true north, it casts a shadow onto the engraved base to indicate local solar time.
It is fully functional at mid-northern latitudes — exactly where most Canadian collectors live.
Featured Sundial Coins at Sprott Money Collectibles
2026 The Sundial 1 oz Silver Proof Coin — Royal Canadian Mint
The 2026 Sundial Silver Proof Coin is the latest and most refined iteration of this remarkable series. Struck from 1 oz of 99.99% pure silver with a proof finish, it features the signature acanthus leaf engraving by Anna Bucciarelli, Roman numeral hour markers around the edge, and a rhodium-plated brass gnomon that stands upright on the reverse.
Limited to just 5,000 coins worldwide, it is presented in a black Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box and a serialized certificate of authenticity. Each coin is specially encapsulated in a taller capsule to accommodate the height of the standing gnomon — a packaging detail that reflects the Mint's care from first concept to final presentation.
To use it: place the coin on a flat surface in direct sunlight, point the gnomon toward true north, and read the shadow's outer edge against the engraved hour markers. Some adjustment may be needed for your specific longitude and time of year, as with any sundial.
At $279.95, it is one of the most technically ambitious and genuinely interactive coins the Royal Canadian Mint has ever produced.
2025 The Gilded Sundial 1 oz Gold-Plated Silver Proof Coin — Royal Canadian Mint
The 2025 Gilded Sundial takes everything that made the original Sundial coin remarkable and elevates it with gold plating. Struck from 1 oz of 99.99% pure silver, both the coin's reverse and the cast gnomon are gold-plated — transforming Anna Bucciarelli's intricate acanthus leaf engraving into a warm, luminous composition that catches the light in a way the rhodium version cannot.
Limited to 5,500 coins worldwide, it carries a $20 face value and the same functional sundial design calibrated for mid-northern latitudes. Presented in the same black RCM clamshell and beauty box, it is available while stocks last at $219.95.
Why the Sundial Coin Stands Apart
Most collector coins are beautiful objects to display and appreciate. The Sundial coin is all of that — and then it does something. You can take it outside, set it down, and watch it tell you the time using the same principle that guided travellers, farmers, and astronomers for thousands of years.
That interactivity, combined with an engraving standard that ranks among the most detailed in the RCM's modern catalogue, makes this series genuinely singular. For collectors, the scarcity is equally meaningful: 5,000 pieces for the 2026 edition, and 5,500 for the already sold-out 2025 Gilded version. Neither number is large for a coin with this profile and this much public attention.
The Sundial series is also an outstanding gift for anyone with an interest in science, history, horology, or Canadian craftsmanship — a coin that earns a second look from people who have never collected before.
How to Use Your Sundial Coin
- Take the coin outdoors on a clear, sunny day.
- Place it on a flat, level surface in direct sunlight.
- Rotate the coin until the gnomon points toward true north.
- Read the time indicated by where the shadow's outer edge falls on the engraved Roman numeral hour markers.
Solar time will differ slightly from your clock time depending on your longitude and the time of year — this is normal for any sundial, and simply reflects the difference between solar time and the standardized time zones we use daily.
Shop Sundial Coins in Canada
Both the 2026 Sundial Silver Proof Coin and the 2025 Gilded Sundial are available at Sprott Money Collectibles — sourced directly from the Royal Canadian Mint, certified authentic, and shipped securely across Canada. Browse the full Royal Canadian Mint collection for more innovative and limited-mintage RCM releases.
Free shipping within Canada on all orders over $500.
Explore More Collecting & Gift Guides
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our guide to silver and gold wedding coin gifts in Canada for unique precious metal gift ideas, or read our Dune coins and bars guide to learn more about collecting Canadian coins and building your collection.
