New Issue: $2 commemorative honours Vimy 100th Anniversary

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued a $2 commemorative circulation coin honouring the brave Canadians who fought at the Battle of Vimy Ridge 100 years ago and paved the way to the Allied victory that ended the First World War.

The new circulation coin was unveiled today at The Military Museums in Calgary. Designed by Canadian artist Tony Bianco, the coin’s reverse depicts the Vimy Memorial flanked by a First World War soldier and a contemporary veteran. Appearing beneath the image of the Memorial, the word “Vimy” is engraved between the soldier and veteran. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as designed by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt in 2003.

“One hundred years ago, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought as one for the first time at the Battle of Vimy Ridge and through ingenuity, bravery and sacrifice, achieved one of the most decisive and pivotal victories of the First World War,” said Minister of Finance Bill Morneau.

“Canadians should never forget how our nation’s soldiers came together to stand for freedom and democracy at Vimy Ridge and their story will continue to be heard thanks to the Royal Canadian Mint’s newest commemorative circulation coin.”

The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as designed by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt in 2003.

FIVE MILLION COINS

Limited to a mintage of five million coins, the new $2 circulation coin is now in general circulation and will be available through public coin exchanges at the Mint’s boutiques or through an online coin exchange at mint.ca/vimy100.

“The Mint is proud to continue the long-standing tradition of crafting coins which honour the sacrifices of Canadians in war time by launching a two-dollar circulation coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge,” said Sandra Hanington, Mint president and CEO. “With this new coin, we remember every Canadian whose unconditional service in the First World War inspired the generations which followed to do their part in defending Canada and everything it stands for.”

RELATED COLLECTOR PRODUCTS

From left: Military Museums Senior Curator Rory Cory; Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Sandra Hanington; Vimy Foundation Executive Director Jeremy Diamond; and Bishop Carroll High School Student Rachel Barlow unveil a $2 circulation coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge at The Military Museums in Calgary. (Photo submitted by Royal Canadian Mint.)

The Mint is adding to the historic commemoration of Vimy Ridge by offering two new collector products.

The first is a wrap roll of 25 $2 circulation coins featuring the same artwork found on the reverse of the coins. The Mint has issued  quarter-ounce Fine silver collector coin with a $3 denomination designed by Canadian artist Laurie McGaw. It features a frontal view of the iconic sculpture “Canada Bereft,” which is prominently featured at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, depicted further in the distance.

These collectibles can be ordered by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 or online at mint.ca/vimy.

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