The Royal Canadian Mint has uncovered a new world of collectibles in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series.
The unforgettable characters and imagery of the revolutionary sci-fi TV show, which has captivated legions of fans in Canada and abroad since 1966, have been captured on a stunning variety of coins devoted to the original series.
A $10 coloured silver coin featuring commander of thee U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain James Tiberius Kirk, was unveiled by William Shatner, the Canadian-born actor who made this character a household name, and Mint President and CEO Sandra Hanington at an event hosted by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
“Through many unforgettable coins, the Royal Canadian Mint has skillfully captured the historical events and cultural experiences whose impact on Canadians continues to be felt today,” said Finance Minister Bill Morneau. “On the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series, the Government of Canada is pleased that the Mint could commemorate the historic influence of this ground-breaking television series and the uniquely Canadian contributions to its enduring success.”
2016 $10 FINE SILVER COIN SERIES (STAR TREK: THE CHARACTERS AND THE TECHNOLOGY)
This four-coin series celebrates some of the most iconic Star Trek characters as well as some of the technology made famous by the show. The first coin features a coloured engraving of Captain James T. Kirk, commander of the U.S.S. Enterprise, which appears in an overhead view of its saucer-shaped hull and twin warp nacelles. Captain Kirk and his ship are framed by the unmistakable outline of Starfleet’s Delta Shield insignia. This half- ounce, 99.99 per cent silver coin is limited to a mintage of 12,500.
As per the following shipping dates, other characters include:
- Scotty and Communicator (July 5)
- Communications Officer Uhura and Tricorder (Aug. 2)
- Mr. Spock and Phaser (Sept. 6)
“For 50 years, Star Trek captured the imagination of countless fans by entertaining us while opening our eyes to the possibilities of science and the wonders of our vast universe,” said Hanington. “The Mint is proud to celebrate a cultural phenomenon that has carved a space in the hearts and minds of Canadians and fellow Star Trek fans all over Planet Earth.”
2016 $20 FINE SILVER COIN (STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE)
The reverse design of this 99.99 per cent silver coin features a colourful tribute to the U.S.S. Enterprise which recreates a scene from the 1968 episode I, Mudd. Rich colour has been applied over an engraved scene of the famed star ship approaching a Class K planet, rendered in rich earth tones and set against the dark void of space. This one-ounce silver coin is limited to a mintage of 11,500.
2016 $20 FINE SILVER COIN SERIES (STAR TREK: CLASSIC SCENES)
This three-coin series captures classic scenes from the most popular episodes of the original Star Trek series. Beginning with City on the Edge of Forever from 1967, every scene is rendered in bold colour over an engraved surface. This coin features Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock standing among the ruins before the towering, ring-shaped entity known as “The Guardian of Forever”. Limited to a mintage of 11,500, this one-ounce silver coin is available as of Aug. 2, 2016.
As per the following shipping dates, other favourite episodes in this series include:
- Mirror Mirror (Sept. 6)
- The Trouble with Tribbles (Oct. 4)
2016 $200 GOLD COIN (STAR TREK: DELTA COIN)
One of the most cherished and recognized emblems of Star Trek is the Delta Shield insignia, which is celebrated in 99.99 per cent pure gold on the world’s first delta-shaped coin. Reflecting the gold tone of the original series’ insignia, the Delta Shield featured on this gold coin displays the elongated star symbol which identified crew assigned to Command. Available as of Sept. 6, this exclusive collectible is limited to a low mintage of 1,500 coins.
2016 25-cent COLOURED COIN & STAMP SET (STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE)
The Mint has crafted a 25-cent face value, nickel-plated steel collector coin which is offered alongside a stamp. The reverse design of the coin combines detailed engraving with vibrant colour in tribute to the U.S.S. Enterprise. Outer space serves as the dark background in the outer ring, over which six different perspectives of Enterprise surround a central motif of a Delta Shield insignia. The stamps included in this special set feature, Captain Kirk, U.S.S. Enterprise and a Klingon battle cruiser.
2016 $20 FINE SILVER COIN (STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE)
The newest edition of the Mint’s popular Fine silver $20 coins also celebrates the U.S.S. Enterprise. This quarter-ounce silver coin features the famed star ship in attack mode, with her two phasers blasting into space. The scene is enhanced by a stylized Delta Shield incorporating the number “50” and coin lettering rendered in a Star Trek font. A total of 300,000 of these coins are being minted.
The obverses of all these coins feature the 2003 effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt.