The Royal Canadian Mint plans to donate all net sales proceeds of its 2022 pysanka coins to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, a relief fund co-ordinated by the Canadian Red Cross following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This year’s seventh annual pysanka release, which honours “the richness of Ukrainian culture and artistry in Canada,” included 5,500 silver coins plus 250 gold coins – all since sold out.
The coins were slated for general release on March 8 as part of that month’s numismatic catalogue (“‘Bigger Picture ’continues on March RCM catalogue,” CCN Vol. 59 #26); however, both issues sold out before public availability.
“Donations made to the Red Cross are supporting life-saving work on the ground in Ukraine, as well as surrounding countries, and addressing emergency needs of the individuals and families affected by this conflict,” said Canadian Red Cross President and CEO Conrad Sauvé.
In the three weeks since Russia launched an all-out invasion by land, sea and air on Feb. 24, nearly three million refugees fled their homeland, according to the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. While the human rights department reported more than 1,000 Ukrainian citizen casualties, including at least 549 deaths, as of March 12, it “believes that the actual figures are considerably higher.”