New Issue: RCM June catalogue highlights remembrance, democracy

The Royal Canadian Mint has released its June numismatic catalogue, which includes 15 new releases with a focus on remembrance, democracy and pre-Confederation provincial history.

Among the highlights is a $20 Fine silver coin from the First World War Allied Forces series, which reflects on the collaborative efforts of a republic, an empire and two of her dominions throughout the Great War and during the Hundred Days Offensive. This coin – the first of four in the new series – highlights Canada’s role as an Allied country (also known as the “Entente Powers”).

The reverse design by Canadian artist Pandora Young places the viewer at the heart of the action on the Western Front in 1918. Multiple finishes give the engraved design a sense of depth as the Canadian cavalry charges towards enemy positions with swords drawn. The image is paired with the general service badge of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which is selectively gold-plated to hint at the pride of a young nation for its fighting force throughout the war and during “Canada’s Hundred Days.” The selectively gold-plated obverse features the effigy of King George V by Sir E. B. Mackennal.

The $20 coin has a weight 31.39 grams, a diameter of 38 millimetres and a mintage of 5,000 pieces.

The first of four $100 Fine silver coins from the Keepers of Parliament series features the unicorn.

KEEPERS OF PARLIAMENT

The Mint’s June catalogue also includes a $100 Fine silver coin – the first of four from the Keepers of Parliament series – this featuring the unicorn.

The Keepers of Parliament are the stone sentinels of Parliament Hill and the protectors of Canada’s symbol of democracy. Beginning with a heraldic-inspired unicorn, each selectively plated reverse will showcase one of four elaborate stone-carved figures that have quietly welcomed visitors and dignitaries for more than 80 years.

The reverse image by Canadian artist Patrick Bélanger stands before the ceremonial entrance on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, where the unicorn supporter of the Arms of Canada is carved into the sandstone lining the east side of the arched entry. The mythical creature rises up in a way that conveys the towering 1.8-metre height of its real-life counterpart. It supports the shield of the Arms of Canada and carries the royal flag of France. Gold plating selectively highlights the chained coronet of crosses and fleurs-de-lis around the unicorn’s neck and the three fleurs-de-lis on the banner. The positioning of the sculpted figure is slightly adjusted to allow the inclusion of an ornamental flourish, whose floral motif is based on a frieze that also adorns the Centre Block’s grand entrance. The obverse features a gold-plated effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

This $100 silver coin has a weight of 311.53 grams, a diameter of 76.25 mm and a mintage of 750 pieces. The remaining three coins in this series are due out in August, October and December of this year.

ATLANTIC PROVINCES COLONIAL CURRENCY

The Fine silver four-coin set, ‘Before Confederation Colonial Currency of the Atlantic Provinces,’ features a Nova Scotia cent; a Price Edward Island cent; a New Brunswick cent; and a Newfoundland five cents.

Another highlight is a Fine silver four-coin set, “Before Confederation Colonial Currency of the Atlantic Provinces,” which features a Nova Scotia cent; a Price Edward Island cent; a New Brunswick cent; and a Newfoundland five cents. Each coin has an antique finish that adds an appropriately aged, patina-like appearance to the pre-Confederation designs by renowned British engraver L.C. Wyon. All four are based on decimal coins authorized by the colonial governments between 1861 and 1871.

Modelled after the 1861 issue, the Nova Scotia cent features a wreath of roses and mayflowers encircling St. Edward’s Crown at the centre, where an ornamental flourish and the date “2018” are engraved.

The Prince Edward Island cent was the only decimal coin ever struck for the province. Released in 1871, the coin features an oak tree motif adapted from the provincial great seals. The face value “1 CENT” and Latin motto PARVA SUB INGENTI (“The small under the protection of the great”) are inscribed beneath a tall oak tree representing Great Britain. Three oak saplings also symbolize the counties of Prince Edward Island.

The New Brunswick cent bears a striking resemblance to the Nova Scotia cent; it, too, features St. Edward’s Crown framed by a wreath of roses and mayflowers, but with a few slight variations, including the absence of the rosebud seen on the lower right side of the Nova Scotia cent.

The Newfoundland five cents is set apart by its more ornamental design. Based on an 1880 issue, the reverse features the denomination “5 CENTS” and the date “2018” framed by an arabesque pattern.
Each coin’s obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

The Nova Scotia cent has a weight of 62.69 grams and a 50-mm diameter; the Prince Edward Island cent has a weight of 31.83 grams and a 40-mm diameter; the New Brunswick cent has a weight of 7.96 grams and a 27-mm diameter; and the Newfoundland five cents has a weight of 15.87 grams and a 34-mm diameter. There is a mintage of 3,000 sets.

OTHER JUNE RELEASES

The other coins in the Mint’s June catalogue include:

  • a $3 Fine silver coin from The Thirteen Teachings from Grandmother Moon series, “Strawberry Moon,” designed by Frank Polson;
  • a crystal-enhanced $5 Fine silver coin from the Birthstones series for the month of July featuring a mandala-inspired pearl design by artist Pandora Young;
  • an $8 Fine silver coin, “The Peaceful Panda, A Gift of Friendship,” depicting a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca);
  • the second $20 Fine silver coin of the Frozen in Ice series featuring a scimitar sabre-tooth cat;
  • a $20 Fine silver coin from the Second World War Battlefront series, “The Invasion of Sicily,” which features the left-facing effigy of King George VI on its obverse;
  • a $30 Fine silver coin from the Canadian Canopy series, “The Maple Leaf,” which has a 50-mm diameter, the largest size in the series so far;
  • a $30 Fine silver phmtoluminscent coin, “Fireworks at the Falls,” designed by Tony Bianco;
  • a $30 Fine silver coin from the Zentangle Art series, this featuring the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus);
  • a selectively gold-plated $50 Fine silver coin, “Antique Carousel,” which features a movable carousel affixed to the coin’s reverse;
  • a $250 Fine silver coin, “Maple Leaf Forever,” which is the Mint’s largest convex-shaped coin to date with a 102-mm diameter;
  • a $500 pure gold coin from the Predators of the Wild series, this featuring a cougar (Puma concolor); and
  • a Fine silver three-coin set, “Beneath Thy Shining Skies,” which combines two rectangular coins with a maple-leaf shaped coin to resemble the Canadian flag while telling the story of the country’s history.

For more information, visit mint.ca.

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