Two Transformers coins were issued by the Royal Canadian Mint last weekend for Fan Expo Canada, which is the third-largest pop culture event in North America and draws about 150,000 people over four days.
In addition to holding a contest offering 15 autographed photo of Canadian voice actor Peter Cullen, who voiced Optimus Prime in the original 1980s Transformers animated series, the Mint released a 25-cent nickel-plated steel lenticular coin plus a $25 pure silver piece featuring the leader of the Autobots.
On the quarter-dollar coin, Optimus Prime is shown with two designs in one image. By tilting the coin from side to side, the character is shown transforming from vehicle to robot and back again.
When he’s in vehicle mode, “Generation 1” Optimus Prime is a semi-trailer truck; however, when he changes into robot mode, the character splits into three different components—a drone named Roller, a combat deck with an ion blaster and the familiar robot module known as the Brain Centre, which is depicted on the coin.
OPTIMUS PRIME has fuelled up at #CentralPerk for day 4 of #FANEXPOCanada. He’s ready for you at booth 1257.
Come by and say hi! #FRIENDS #FXC19 #celebratefandom pic.twitter.com/Gcgl4VrCcH— Royal Canadian Mint (@CanadianMint) August 25, 2019
On another new Transformers coin, this a 25-cent lenticular piece, Optimus Prime transforms from vehicle to robot and back again as the coin is tilted from side to side.
$25 COIN
On the $25 coin, ultra-high relief engraving allows Optimus Prime’s face to rise up from the coin’s surface.
This piece features the engraved Autobots insignia on both sides of the portrait head of Optimus Prime, the legendary leader and champion of peace. The coin’s deep colours keep with the original toys and animated series from the 1980s while glow paint hints at optic weaponry. The reverse includes the character’s name engraved in “Cybertronian” lettering, the word “CANADA” and the face value “25 DOLLARS.”
The Transformers series was first introduced to Canadians in 1984 with the launch of Hasbro’s original toy line. It was a multimedia franchise with comic book tie-ins, an animated series, merchandising and a feature film.
In addition to Cullen, who was born in Montréal, several other Transformers incarnations were produced in Canada and featured Canadian animators and voice actors.