745) "Keepers of Parliament" Coin Series, Canada: The first coin in the 10 Oz. selectively Gold-plated Silver Coin features the "Unicorn" issued by the Royal Canadian Mint: Issue date: June 2018:
For other interesting posts of Canadian coins/Banknotes on this blog please visit the following links:
For other interesting posts of Canadian coins/Banknotes on this blog please visit the following links:
The Royal Canadian Mint has issued its first coin in the Series titled "Keepers of Parliament" in June 2018, which is, more or less, on the lines of the Royal Mint, UK Series titled "The Queen's Beasts".
Four coins are going to be included in the Series - The Unicorn (issued in June 2018), the Beaver (August 2018), the Soldier (October 2018) and the Lion (December 2018). This Coin Series highlights the elaborate stone-work figures that watch over the front doors of Canada's Parliament.
The inspiration for the coin series:
The Centre Block's (main building of the Canadian Parliamentary Complex located on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario) vaulted entrance way was still unfinished, when the Peace Tower was inaugurated on 01.07.1927. The chief architect working on the Peace Tower envisioned it as a "continuously evolving monument" - as such unfinished blocks were deliberately placed throughout the building to encourage future sculptors to add their artistry on history as it unfolded.
The Peace Tower was embellished a decade later, when a team of sculptors worked on uncarved blocks of sandstone and transformed them into an intricate display of floral motifs, animals and heraldic devices - including the Unicorn supporter of the Arms of Canada.
The Unicorn (First Coin in the Series):
The Reverse of the 100 Dollars selectively Gold-plated Silver Coin placed against a mosaic featuring a Unicorn
The Unicorn is the only mythical supporter of the Arms of Canada.
It supports the shield of the Arms of Canada and carries the flag of what was once the Kingdom of France. The Unicorn is one of the two supporters of the Arms of Canada. The Unicorn is also the heraldic symbol of Scotland in the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.
Four coins are going to be included in the Series - The Unicorn (issued in June 2018), the Beaver (August 2018), the Soldier (October 2018) and the Lion (December 2018). This Coin Series highlights the elaborate stone-work figures that watch over the front doors of Canada's Parliament.
The inspiration for the coin series:
The Centre Block's (main building of the Canadian Parliamentary Complex located on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario) vaulted entrance way was still unfinished, when the Peace Tower was inaugurated on 01.07.1927. The chief architect working on the Peace Tower envisioned it as a "continuously evolving monument" - as such unfinished blocks were deliberately placed throughout the building to encourage future sculptors to add their artistry on history as it unfolded.
The Peace Tower was embellished a decade later, when a team of sculptors worked on uncarved blocks of sandstone and transformed them into an intricate display of floral motifs, animals and heraldic devices - including the Unicorn supporter of the Arms of Canada.
The Unicorn (First Coin in the Series):
The Unicorn is the only mythical supporter of the Arms of Canada.
It supports the shield of the Arms of Canada and carries the flag of what was once the Kingdom of France. The Unicorn is one of the two supporters of the Arms of Canada. The Unicorn is also the heraldic symbol of Scotland in the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.
The Reverse face depicts a Unicorn rising up in a manner which conveys the towering height (1.80 metres) of its real-life stonework counterpart at the Peace Tower.
Gold plating selectively highlights the chained coronet of crosses and fleur-de-lis around the Unicorn's neck, as well as, the flag's three fleur-de-lis. The positioning of the sculpted figure is adjusted slightly compared to the real stone-work sculpture, to allow for an ornamental flourish - a floral motif based on a frieze that also adorns the Centre Block's grand entrance.
On the lower periphery are seen the denomination/face value of the coin "100 DOLLARS" and the words "CANADA 2018".
The Obverse face of the coin shows an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, with the peripheral inscriptions - "ELIZABETH II. D.G.REGINA" (meaning "Elizabeth II, By the Grace of God Queen")
The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination/Face value: 100 Dollars; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Silver (Ag) with selective gold plating; Coin Quality: Proof; Diameter/Size: 76.25 mm; Weight: 311.54 grams or 10 Oz.; Edge: Serrated; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Serialised; Mintage: 750 pieces; Designers: Belanger (Reverse), Susanna Blunt (Obverse); Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Year of issue: 2018.
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Informative post."
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
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