The Royal Canadian Mint’s newly issued glow-in-the-dark Star Trek coin is now more than 90 per cent sold out.
The two-ounce 99.99 per cent pure silver “Five Captains” coin aptly depicts five Star Trek captains, including (from left to right) Benjamin Sisko, who was played by Avery Brooks in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from 1993-99; Jonathan Archer, who was played by Scott Bakula in Star Trek: Enterprise from 2001-05; James Kirk, who was played by Canadian actor William Shatner in Star Trek: The Original Series from 1966-69; Jean-Luc Picard, who was played by Sir Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1987-94; Kathryn Janeway, who was played by Kate Mulgrew in Star Trek: Voyager from 1995-2001.
The portraits are positioned around an engraved Delta Shield Insignia and against a space background. They gently overlap the outer band in which the words “CANADA”, “STAR TREK” and the year-date “2017” are engraved.
In daylight, the $30 silver coin depicts five captains from the Star Trek franchise.
When viewed in the dark, glow-in-the-dark elements reveal a second image on the reverse—a head-on view of U.S.S. Enterprise in flight. Between the Enterprise‘s phaser beams lies an illuminated Delta Shield Insignia, which became the identifying emblem of Starfleet; it bears the five-point star that’s indicative of a command rank.
The coin’s obverse features the right-facing effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Mintage: 5,000 pieces
- Composition: 99.99 per cent pure silver
- Finish: Proof
- Weight: 62.67 grams
- Diameter: 54 mm
- Edge: serrated
- Certificate: serialized
- Face value: $30
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Star Trek: The Next Generation built upon the spirit of The Original Series by updating the themes to reflect its time.
This $20 silver Borg cube coin features a colourful depiction of the Borg’s green tractor beam attempting to assimilate the U.S.S. Enterprise.
Today, Canadian Star Trek fans remain dedicated to the series, which included a cast of interesting characters and intriguing episodes, including “The Best of Both Worlds,” which featured one of the most memorable antagonists of all time—the Borg.
The formidable Borg pose one of the greatest threats to the Federation. They are uncompromising in their desire for “perfection,” which drives their single-minded pursuit to assimilate new worlds, technologies and people, including, briefly, Captain Picard.
Another recently issued coin, this a $20 pure silver piece, combines colour and engraving for a unique tribute to the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The coin’s field depicts the exterior of a Borg cube vessel, inside of which is a colourful depiction of a tension-filled scene between a Borg cube and the U.S.S. Enterprise. The Borg’s green tractor beam—part of their relentless pursuit to assimilate everything—is also shown.