649) Viking Ships: Three Coin Series from the Royal Canadian Mint: $ 20 Silver coin titled "Northern Fury" is the first coin in the Series released in January 2018:
For other interesting posts please visit the following links:
For other interesting posts please visit the following links:
The Royal Canadian Mint has released a new silver coin which revisits the long historic ties of Viking exploration in North America, more than a thousand years ago.
The first coin in the Series titled "Northern Fury" recreates the Viking Age, which was a time when naval expertise of the Norse sea-farers left an imprint on history, wherever their ships came ashore, including on Canada's east coast. Here, the Reverse of the coin is presented against the background of the border of a Viking map showing a land animal, a bird and a fish.
The Viking landing on Canada's east coast occurred about 500 years before the arrival of early European explorers such as John Cabot and Jacques Cartier. This was one of the earliest recorded contacts between the Norsemen and Aborginal people in Canada. The origin of the term "Viking" is not very clear. There is still much debate but it has been suggested that the word comes from the Old Norse word "vikingr" meaning a person from "vik" (an inlet or bay) or "viken" (an area in Southern Norway).
The Viking landing on Canada's east coast occurred about 500 years before the arrival of early European explorers such as John Cabot and Jacques Cartier. This was one of the earliest recorded contacts between the Norsemen and Aborginal people in Canada. The origin of the term "Viking" is not very clear. There is still much debate but it has been suggested that the word comes from the Old Norse word "vikingr" meaning a person from "vik" (an inlet or bay) or "viken" (an area in Southern Norway).
The maps of the earlier Viking explorers, those who claimed to have visited a vast "Green-land" - as well as a lesser island made of ice - were compared to later explorers who mapped out the region as a land of "Green and Ice". It seems that this contradiction in the maps was a deliberate ploy by the later Viking explorers to fend off any possible settlers from other lands.
The early Viking explorers had also claimed to have found a vast territory referred to as "Vinland", describing a land covered in vines and shrubbery.
These maps were referencing the Island of Newfoundland, and their explorations constitute an early chapter in Canadian history.
Located on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula, L'Anse aux Meadows is the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America. A small cloak pin discovered in 1968 offered the first proof of a Norse encampment on Canada's shores suggesting that these Viking visitors appeared a millennium ago. In 1978, the Site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Says the UNESCO Book titled "Treasures of the World" in my personal library about L'Anseaux Meadows National Historic Site, Canada - " Located at the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula on the Island of Newfoundland, L'Anse aux Meadows is the oldest known European Settlement and the only authenticated Viking site on the American continent. Here, archeologists have unearthed evidence of Viking exploration in North America dating back around 1000 years, well before Columbus and Cabot.
In 1960, Helge and Anne Stein Ingstad, with the help of local fisherman George Decker, uncovered the remnants of eight wood-framed peat-turf buildings similar to those found in Greenland and Iceland. A forge, four workshops and numerousartefacts have been found - a cloak pin needle and spindle whorl indicate Norse origin and the presence of women in camp, while the metal slag found indicates the first forging of iron in the New World. Wood debris and nail fragments point to ship repair as one of the main activities by Vikings at "'Anse aux Meadows, which is likely the "gateway to Vinland" mentioned in the sagas.
The area has been home to many different cultures. The earliest sign of human activity go back roughly 5,000 years to the Dorset and Groswater paleoeskimo. It was from here that exploration around the Gulf of St. Lawrence and into Vinland by the Vikings led to the first encounters between Europeans and North American Aboriginal peoples."
About the first coin titled "Northern Fury" and the three coin Series on the Viking ships:
The 3-coin series re-visits the Viking age, to a time when the naval expertise of Norse seafarers left an imprint on history wherever their ships came ashore - including Canada's east coast. Each of the three coins re-imagines Viking ships, as they are believed to have looked like about a millennium ago and features a design that is as elaborate and intricate as the ship it depicts.
Different frostings add nuance to the highly detailed engraving and a selective application of colour accents the outer ring. The circular nature of the frame connects with the primal and timelessness of the Viking spirit, while the knotwork exemplifies the beauty of traditional Norse art.
The 3-coin series re-visits the Viking age, to a time when the naval expertise of Norse seafarers left an imprint on history wherever their ships came ashore - including Canada's east coast. Each of the three coins re-imagines Viking ships, as they are believed to have looked like about a millennium ago and features a design that is as elaborate and intricate as the ship it depicts.
Different frostings add nuance to the highly detailed engraving and a selective application of colour accents the outer ring. The circular nature of the frame connects with the primal and timelessness of the Viking spirit, while the knotwork exemplifies the beauty of traditional Norse art.
The first coin titled "Northern Fury" launches the Norse Figurehead three-coin series:
The Reverse of the $20 Silver Coin showcases the dragon-head of a Viking Drakkar (Long-boat)
On the Reverse of the $20 Silver Coin is depicted an artistic rendering of the dragon-head long ship which was regarded as a symbol of Viking power and strength. The background features a precisely engraved depiction of the wooden vessel in open waters/seas, where the wind fills its square sail and propels it forward during a long-distance journey.
A troop carrier fit for rulers and chieftains, this ornate long ship is equipped with shields while its curved bow rises up towards a dragonhead prow ornament, whose purpose was to ward off evil spirits and sea monsters. The dragon-headed longship (or "Drakkar" - which was a French name for these longships - was the great ship of the Viking age and the embodiment of the Norsemen's superior ship-building abilities.
This troop carrier was the largest vessel in the fleet but was remarkably light and swift for its time. While a small draft allowed it to enter shallow waterways, the "Dreki" (an old Norse word for "Dragon") could either cross the seas under sail or was powered by oard during hit-and-run raids that caused fear as soon as its infamous figure-head appeared.
In addition, the Vikings used a narrow warship called the "Skeid" which was better suited for rowing, while the larger "Busse" was sturdier for rough seas. For the superstitious Vikings, the elaborately carved dragon-head on the prow was a talisman to keep sea monsters and evil spirits at bay.
This troop carrier was the largest vessel in the fleet but was remarkably light and swift for its time. While a small draft allowed it to enter shallow waterways, the "Dreki" (an old Norse word for "Dragon") could either cross the seas under sail or was powered by oard during hit-and-run raids that caused fear as soon as its infamous figure-head appeared.
In addition, the Vikings used a narrow warship called the "Skeid" which was better suited for rowing, while the larger "Busse" was sturdier for rough seas. For the superstitious Vikings, the elaborately carved dragon-head on the prow was a talisman to keep sea monsters and evil spirits at bay.
Selective colour over the engraving emphasises the elaborate nature of the carved figurehead in the foreground, which offers a magnified view of this feature that gave the Norse vessel its name and added to the ship's imposing appearance.
The side view of the figurehead overlaps a green-coloured frame inspired by Norse art elements, including traditional knot-work with an integrated gripping beast motif that also adorns the Norse figurehead.
On this face is also engraved the initials "PG" below the Viking ship, in the water, standing for Patrick Belanger, the designer of this coin. The year of issue "2018" is alongside the Viking ship's sail.
On this face is also engraved the initials "PG" below the Viking ship, in the water, standing for Patrick Belanger, the designer of this coin. The year of issue "2018" is alongside the Viking ship's sail.
The Obverse of the $20 Silver coin features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Susanna Blunt which is seen on all Canadian circulation and many commemorative coins since 2003.
The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: $20; Metallic Composition: .999 Silver; Weight: 31.39 grams; Diameter: 38.0 mm; Edge: serrated; Coin Quality: Proof with applied colour; Designer: Patrick Belanger (Reverse), Susanna Blunt (Obverse); Year of issue: 2018; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint. Mintage: 6,000 pieces. Certificate of Authenticity: serialised.
The "Northern Fury" coin has been released in January 2018. The second coin in the Series titled "Dragon's Sail" is expected to be launched in February 2018 and the third and last coin in the Series "Viking Voyage" is likely to be released in March 2018.
Remarks: Each of the three coins is separately encapsulated and presented in individually Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clam-shells with block beauty boxes.
No comments:
Post a Comment