1205) Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada: Centenary Anniversary (1920-2020): Silver Piedfort Bullion 10 Dollar Coins commemorate the milestone:

1205) Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada: Centenary Anniversary (1920-2020):  Silver Piedfort Bullion 10 Dollar Coins commemorate the milestone:

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued Silver Piedfort Bullion Coins in the denomination of 10 Dollars, which commemorate the Centenary Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

About the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) - nicknamed the "Mounties":

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or the "Mounties" provide vital law enforcement at a Federal level while also providing provincial policing in eight of Canada's 10 provinces, excluding Ontario and Quebec.

The concept of a mounted police was mooted by Canada's first Prime Minister J.A. Macdonald, who envisaged a permanent force to patrol Canada's newly acquired Northwest Territories, purchased by the Dominion of Canada from the Hudson Bay Company.

Macdonald signed into law the force initially known as the "Northwest Mounted Rifles". However, the United States of America got concerned about what they perceived as a prelude to a "military build-up" along their border.

As such, the force was renamed as the "Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) when it was officially founded in 1873.

In 1904, the force added the prefix "Royal" to its name, when it merged with the Dominion Police, the main police force for all points East of the province of Manitoba.

In 1920, it was renamed the "Royal Canadian Mounted Police" (RCMP), a name that continued to the present day.

After 1920, there have been several substantive changes or additions to the RCMP, which included the amalgamation of Newfoundland's own Newfoundland Ranger Force when they joined the Canadian Federation on 01.04.1949.

The RCMP became a full member of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in 06/1953.

On 04.07.1973, on the occasion of the Centenary Anniversary of the founding of the original police force (the NWMP), a new badge was granted to the RCMP.

The RCMP is famous for its distinctive dress uniform, or "review order", popularly known as the "Red Serge". The resplendent design includes a high collared scarlet tunic, midnight blue breeches with yellow leg stripe, belt with white sidearm lanyard, ox-blood-coloured riding boots, brown wide flat-brimmed felt campaign hat and brown gloves et al.

The Commemorative Coin:

The Obverse and Reverse of the Silver Piedfort Bullion 10 Dollar Commemorative Coin placed side-by-side

The Reverse of the Silver Piedfort Bullion 10 Dollar Coin depicts a lone RCMP rider on horseback holding a standard in his left hand and the reins of his mount with his right hand.

On the upper periphery are inscribed - "1920 CANADA 2020" and on the lower periphery is inscribed - "FINE SILVER 2 OZ ARGENT PUR" (meaning "Fine Silver 2 Oz Pune Silver").

In front of the rider is given the purity of the metal - "9999", while behind him is the mint mark of the Royal Canadian Mint. The initials of the designer "P.C." (standing for "Paul Cedarberg" are behind the horse's left hoof.

The Obverse of the Silver Piedfort Bullion 10 Dollar Coin carries an effigy of George V facing left, designed by EB Mackennal, whose initials "EBM" appear on the King's left arm. 

The peripheral inscriptions are - "GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP: 10 DOLLARS" (meaning "George V, By the Grace of God King and Emperor of India".

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 10 Dollars; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 62.2 grams or 2 Oz; Diameter/Size: 38.0 mm; Coin Quality: Uncirculated Bullion; Maximum Mintage: as per demand; Year: 2020.

For other interesting posts on the Coins and Banknotes of Canada, please visit the following links:

1) Coins of Canada, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint

2) Canada 150: Celebrating Canada's sesquicentennial in 2017: Issue of 5 circulation coins to celebrate the milestone

3) Banknotes and coins of Denmark (Part II): Also contains a brief about the Skuldelev Viking ships

4) Viking Ships: 3 Coin Series from the Royal Canadian Mint: First coin in the Series: $20 Silver Coin titled "Northern Fury" released in January 2018

5) Viking Ships: Second Coin in the Series: $20 Silver coin titled "Viking Voyage" released in February 2018:

6) Viking Ships: Third Coin in the Series: $20 Silver Coin titled "Dragon Ship" released in March 2018

 7) Inuksuk: Iconic Canada: A $20 Gold Plated Silver Coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in January 2018

8) Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB): 100th Anniversary: A set of Silver coin of $30 and a Medallion issued by the Royal Canadian Mint on 21st March 2018

9) "Keepers of  Parliament" Coin Series, Canada: The first coin in the 10 Oz selectively Gold Plated Silver Coin Series features the Unicorn, issued in June 2018

10) "Pacific Sunset": Canadian Coasts Square 3 Coin Series: The first $3 Silver-Gold plated Coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint on 04.07.2018

11) "Keepers of the Parliament" Coin Series, Canada: The second coin in the 10 Oz. selectively Gold-plated Silver Coin features the "Beaver", issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, in August 2018

12) "Centre Block of Parliament Buildings" (3 Cents Postage Stamp commemorating Canada's Diamond Jubilee issued on 29.06.1927) depicted on a rectangular stamp shaped coin: First Coin in a 3-Stamp Series from Royal Canadian Mint, which recreate some of the most memorable stamps of the early 20th Century

13) "True North": Canadian Coasts Square 3-Coin Series: The second $3 Silver-Gold plated Coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in August 2018

14) "Atlantic Coves": Canadian Coasts Square 3 Coin Series: The third $3 Silver-Gold plated Coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in September 2018

15) The Salmon Run, Canada: A rectangular $25 Silver Coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, Canada to highlight this natural annual event which attracts several predators, including Grizzly Bears and Eagles (2018)

16) Viola Desmond, Civil Rights Activist and the first Canadian woman to feature on a circulation Banknote: A $10 Polymer Banknote issued bt the Bank of Canada on 19.11.2018: Canada's first vertically oriented Banknote issuedby the Bank of Canada on 19.11.2018

17) 90th Anniversary of the Armistice of 1918: A Commemorative Circulation 25 Cents coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa in 2008

18) Canada's Vikings of Vinland: The Viking Age: "Norse Gods" 3-Coin Series:The first 20 Dollars Silver Coin (with selective Gold plating) issued by the Royal Canadian Mint

19) Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada: Trade tokens & Pins: introduced in 2018, with a second edition issued in 2019:

20) "Marvel of Avian Flight", Canada: A three Silver Coin Seriestitled - "Majestic Birds in Motion" being brought out by the Royal Canadian Mint featuring the Canadian Geese, the Greathorned Owl and the Golden Eagles: First Coin issue date: 25.07.2019

21) Northern Lights over Parliament Hill, Canada, revealed through Black Light Technology: A 20 Dollars Silver, Proof Coin with applied colour issued by the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) on 06.08.2019

22) Centennial Flame Monument on Parliament Hill, Canada: A Double Crown Sized Silver 50 Dollars Coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint: Coin issue date: 2019

23) "Canadian Horse", Canada: Royal Mint Canada issues a 20 Dollars Gold and Black Rhodium plated Silver Proof Coin: Year of issue marked as 2020:

24) Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice: A $20 (Twenty Canadian Dollars) Silver Coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint: Coin issue date/year: 2016

25) Red Maple Coin, Canada: "Maple Leaf Annual Coin Series" from the Royal Canadian Mint (RAM): A $10 (10 Dollars) Silver coin issued in 2019

26) "Canadian Fun and festivities" Coin series, Canada: This 3 Dollars Silver Coin, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, features bringing home a Christmas "Cut-your-own-Tree" from the Wild:

27) Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada: Centenary Anniversary (1920-2020): Silver Piedfort Bullion 10 Dollar Coins commemorate the milestone