The Royal Canadian Mint’s 2023 Allegory of Peace silver coin has captured the esteemed Coin of the Year Award in the Most Inspirational category.
The Allegory of Peace coin, designed by artist Rebecca Yanovskaya, embodies Canada’s longstanding dedication to peace. The coin’s reverse showcases an intricate three-dimensional sculpture of Peace, a winged figure elegantly suspended within the outer ring. The unique design choice of omitting a traditional field around the sculpture allows it to be appreciated from both sides, adding depth and a striking visual element to the piece. Crafted in pure silver and plated with gold, the figure of Peace is depicted standing protectively over the world, her wings gracefully curled. She wears a crown of maple leaves, symbolizing Canada, and holds a globe in one hand and an olive wreath in the other, reinforcing her role as a guardian of peace.
The outer ring of the coin, also made of pure silver with an antique finish, features a repeating motif of doves carrying olive and maple leaf branches. This design is mirrored on the obverse, providing a rear view of the Peace figure, further enhancing the coin’s narrative and artistic appeal. The coin sold out shortly after its release in 2023.
Sponsored by World Coin News, the 2024 Coin of the Year competition received a record 600 submissions from international mint representatives and numismatists. The winners, selected from 100 finalists across ten categories, were determined by a panel of global mint officials, medalists, journalists, as well as central bank and museum representatives. The winning recipients in the ten categories were announced on Aug. 8 at the American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money convention in Chicago, Ill. The United States Mint celebrated on home turf, with its American Liberty high relief $100 gold coin, themed “Liberty Through Perseverance,” being named the ultimate winner of Coin of the Year.