The Royal Canadian Mint has released its fifth numismatic catalogue, this for the month of May 2017.
With only a few months until Canada’s 150th birthday, this latest catalogue continues the Mint’s ongoing celebration of all things Canadian. Among these new issues is an imposing tribute to Canada 150 in the form of an ultra-high relief 10-ounce Fine silver coin that recreates the art deco elegance of the 1927 Diamond Jubilee of the Confederation of Canada Medal.
This low-mintage coin is the second in a series of three important historical pieces commemorating Canadian Confederation: Canadian Confederation in 1867; the Diamond Jubilee of Canadian Confederation in 1927; and the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation later this year.
This second coin relates to the Diamond Jubilee of the Confederation of Canada Medal, which was issued in 1927 as a special presentation piece expressing the nation’s pride and identity. Inspired by a general design by Canadian illustrator Charles William Jefferys, the reverse design is a tribute to the original design by Raymond Delamarre.
With arms spread wide to embody Canada’s motto, Ad Mari Usque Ad Mare (“From sea to sea”), a robed female allegory is engraved in high relief as a symbol of a young nation’s strength. She stands among sheaves of wheat that signify growth and prosperity across Canada, which is also represented by the clusters of maple leaves at her feet. Rising up behind her, a map of the Dominion of Canada is marked by transcontinental railroad links and the shield from Royal Arms of Canada (as it appeared in 1927). The combination of different finishes adds a subtle modern flair to the design, while a circular frame bears the engraved words “CANADA” and “A MARI VSQVE AD MARE”, the face value “100 DOLLARS” and the commemorative dates “1867” and “2017”.
The obverse features the effigies of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt and Queen Victoria by Leonard Charles Wyon. The obverse also includes the Royal cypher used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and a cypher used by Queen Victoria. Each Royal cypher is ensigned with a crown depicted in a style specifically used by each monarch.
This $100 Fine silver coin has a weight of 311.535 grams, a diameter of 76.25 mm and a mintage of 1,000 pieces.
THREE-COIN SET
Other 1927 treasures are finally seeing the light of day with a Fine silver three-coin set featuring circulation coin designs proposed, 90 years ago but never adopted for the celebration of Canada’s Diamond Jubilee. These “forgotten” designs appear on unique renditions of the one-, five- and 25-cent denomination with the latter two being the only coins ever designed by a member of the Group of Seven: artist J.E.H. MacDonald.
Each of these coins has a weight of 31.39 grams and a 38-mm diameter.
‘EN PLEIN AIR’
In the first release from a new “En Plein Air” series of 2017-dated $20 Fine silver coins, the splendour of a bed of Canada 150 tulips projects from a painter’s canvas on a design by artist Elizabeth Sim. Her illustration on the 60 mm-wide one-ounce coin features new texturized and canvas effects with colour, bringing to life one of Ottawa’s cherished springtime symbols, which is celebrated annually with the Tulip Festival, now in its 65th year.
Stretching across the entire reverse of the coin, the borderless background image offers a photo-realistic close-up of the flowerbed of Canada 150 tulips in full bloom. In contrast, the easel-mounted canvas in the foreground is positioned to suggest the viewer is in fact the artist, as the eye naturally lingers on the finished painting of the white and red-flamed tulip. This simulation of a plein air painting experience is further enhanced by the integration of two advanced technologies: texturized colour, which gives the design its sense of depth and dimension by
subtly raising the easel and canvas; and canvas effect, which artfully adds a touch of realism by mimicking the surface textures of a finished painting, including the artist’s brushstrokes.
This $20 Fine silver coin has a weight of 31.85 grams, a 60-mm diameter and a mintage of 5,500 coins.
PEYTO LAKE
The 2017 $10 Fine silver coin, “Peyto Lake,” is the 11th coin of the Mint’s “Celebrating Canada’s 150th” series. It features a photo by Alberta’s Missy Mandel. The coin’s vibrant colour over detailed engraving that showcases the famous mountain landscape of Banff National Park. The viewpoint from the Bow Summit Lookout affords a sweeping view of the forested valley below, where the partly clouded sky has cast shadows over the terrain.
Sunlight shines through the clouds and enhances the colourful appearance of Peyto Lake, which steals the spotlight with its dreamlike, turquoise hue. The glacier-fed waters are nestled among the Rocky Mountains, where snow-capped peaks add a majestic quality to the scenery as they seemingly rise up to touch the sky. The reverse also features the engraved word “CANADA” and the dates “1867-2017” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
This $10 Fine silver coin has a weight of 15.87 grams, a 34-mm diameter and a mintage of 25,000 pieces.
Other coins included in the May catalogue include:
- the 2017 $350 pure gold coin, “The Majestic Elk,” which features artwork by Maurade Barton;
- the 2017 $10 Fine silver coin, “Birds Among Nature’s Colours: Tufted Titmouse,” which is designed by Derek C. Wicks;
- the 2017 $25 Fine silver coin, “Dragon,” which features a vividly coloured ultra-high relief design of a dragon boat figure head by artist Simon Ng;
- the $20 Fine silver coin, “Star Trek: The Borg,” featuring the ominous Borg cube;
- the $30 Fine silver coin, “Star Trek: Five Captains,” featuring the five Star Trek captains ;
- the double crystal-enhanced 2017 $3 Fine silver coin from the Zodiac series for the month of June, “Gemini,” designed by Pandora Young; and
- the limited-edition silver dollar Proof set, which features a Proof silver dollar with red colour on the reverse.
For more information, visit mint.ca.