Tonya De AgostinisThe Canadian Mint has revealed two new coins it is releasing for Remembrance Day.
The first 2019 commemorative silver coin is part of the Mint’s annual rite of remembrance. A solemn symbol of remembrance, a red Murano glass poppy is centrally positioned against the coin’s proof finish.
A wreath of poppies represents the continuity and hope behind the cross-shaped ribbon that bears the stamped text “Lest We Forget / N’Oublions Jamais.”
The text is a pledge to remember all who have fallen and to acknowledge the valour of all who serve. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
The engraved poppies have been individually sculpted and frosted to emphasize the individual stories of remembrance and sacrifice. The coin has a limited worldwide mintage of 6,000. The coin is crafted from one ounce of 99.99 per cent pure silver.
Erica Maga, product manager at the Royal Canadian Mint says, “A Murano poppy is something we’ve never done before and the effect is stunning. There’s no mistaking its meaning. And by making sure each poppy stands out, the engraved wreath was our way of representing the many individual stories of sacrifice and remembrance. It was truly an honour to work on this project.”
Designed by artist Kerri Weller, the coin is based on the poppy wreaths that are a common sight at commemorative services held each November 11 in Canada on Remembrance Day.
Weller explains, “The poppy is a poignant symbol that evokes memories of our veterans, their sacrifices and a mutual longing for peace on this planet we all call home. In designing this coin, I looked to my family’s own wartime experiences to find that emotional space in which I could distil these key concepts of loss, remembrance and hope.”
The coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box. It can be purchased for $139.95 on their website.
The second coin is the first-ever poppy-shaped coin. The multi-layered poppy illustration by Canadian artist Jamie Desrochers features four indentations along the circumference, providing the framework for the poppy’s four petals.
Repeating graphic shapes, intersecting lines, and the innovative use of colour and engraving create the illusion of endless petals. The flower’s pistil appears as the centre of the design in black, and the word CANADA is engraved along the outer edge of the bottom petal.
The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt at the centre of the coin, with ELIZABETH II, D.G. Regina, and 10 DOLLARS engraved along the outer edge of three petals.
The coin is crafted from 99.99 per cent pure silver and has a limited worldwide mintage of 10,000. It can be purchased for $84.95 on the Mint’s website.
