1448) Bill Reid (1920-1998), Haida Artist Canada: 100th Anniversary (1920-2020) of the Birth of the Haida Artist IIjuwas, known as Bill Reid: Commemorative $2, $1, 25 Cents, 10 Cents & 5 Cents Coins & $200 (Gold) issued by the Royal Canadian Mint: Year: 2020:
The Royal Canadian Mint has issued new $2 (Two Dollars) Commemorative Coins on the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Haida artist IIjuwas, known as Bill Reid (1920-1998), who brought Haida Art and Culture to a global audience.
He was a master goldsmith, carver and sculptor, writer, broadcaster and a gifted mentor who championed Haida causes throughout his life.
Through his mother, Reid was a member of the K'aadasga Kiigawaay Raven Wolf Clan of T'aanuu.
"Haida Gwaii", translated as "Islands of the Haida people", is an archipelago of islands on the North coast of British Columbia, formerly known as Queen Charlotte's Islands.
Haida society continues to be engaged in the production of a robust and highly stylised art form. Few components of Northwest coast art are more noteworthy and internationally recognised than large wooden carvings or totem poles.
Chilkat weaving and ornate jewellery are also gaining popularity, transitioning rapidly into works of popular expression like "Haida manga".
Reid's extra-ordinary body of work includes 1,500 pieces ranging from jewellery art to monumental carvings and more recently, his distinct artwork has appeared on Canadian coins.
The "Xhuwaji" (or "Grizzly Bear") became a favourite character of Bill Reid's, and he often used this specific motif in his jewellery designs and sculptures.
Between 2001 and 2006, Canada's $20 Banknote highlighted several works by Bill Reid including Xhuwaji/Haida Grizzly Bear Design featured on this coin. The Banknote's version looks different, because of security, technical and aesthetic reasons, and the original colours were replaced by yellow and orange.
"Xuu ajii" (Grizzly Bear) was a favourite theme of Bill Reid's and he often used it in his jewellery designs and sculpture. "Xuu ajii" is an important crest among the Haida Nation and plays a significant role in ancient Haida narratives.
The Skidegate Haida spelling for Grizzly has evolved since Reid created "Xhuwaji," Haida Grizzly Bear. Presently, the word for Grizzly Bear is spelled as - "Xuu ajii". This is because in recent decades, the spelling and phonetic structure of the Haida language have refined through the efforts to revitalise the language by community members, particularly Elders, via the Skidegate Haida Immersion Programme (SHIP).
Between 2001 and 2006, Canada's $20 Banknote highlighted several works by Bill Reid including Xhuwaji/Haida Grizzly Bear Design featured on this coin. The Banknote's version looks different, because of security, technical and aesthetic reasons, and the original colours were replaced by yellow and orange.
"Xuu ajii" (Grizzly Bear) was a favourite theme of Bill Reid's and he often used it in his jewellery designs and sculpture. "Xuu ajii" is an important crest among the Haida Nation and plays a significant role in ancient Haida narratives.
The Skidegate Haida spelling for Grizzly has evolved since Reid created "Xhuwaji," Haida Grizzly Bear. Presently, the word for Grizzly Bear is spelled as - "Xuu ajii". This is because in recent decades, the spelling and phonetic structure of the Haida language have refined through the efforts to revitalise the language by community members, particularly Elders, via the Skidegate Haida Immersion Programme (SHIP).
The Commemorative Coins:
Six variants of the Commemorative Coin have been issued in the $2 (uncoloured), $2 (coloured), $1, 25 Cents, 10 Cents, 5 Cents and $200 (Gold) denominations.
The Reverse of the $2 (Two Dollars) Coin features Xhuwaji/Haida Grizzly Bear by Bill Reid on the inner core and extending onto the outer ring.
On the top portion/upper periphery of the outer ring, two images of a maple leaf appear within the line pattern.
A banner at the bottom of the outer ring bears the inscriptions "BILL" and "REID", in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Haida artist's birth, while "2020" is centred between two security marks that consist of a maple leaf within another maple leaf.
The selectively coloured $2 (Two Dollars) Coin design features the same Reverse design encircled by a ring and enhanced with colours of red, white and black.
On the Obverse, both versions of the $2 (Two Dollars) Coin feature the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.
The specifications of the $2 variants are:
Uncirculated Coin with applied colour:
Denomination: $2 (Two Dollars); Metal Composition: Bi-metallic; Weight: 6.9grams; Diameter/Size: 28.0 mm; Coin Quality: Uncirculated with applied colour; Mintage: 20,00,000 pieces; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020; Designers: (Reverse) - Bill Reid, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt.
Uncirculated Coin:
Denomination: $2 (Two Dollars); Metal Composition: Bi-metallic; Weight: 6.9 grams; Diameter/Size: 28.0 mm; Coin Quality: Uncirculated; Mintage: 10,00,000 pieces; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020; Designers: (Reverse) - Bill Reid, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt.
The Reverse of the $200 (Two Hundred Dollars) Gold Coin features an engraved rendering of Xhuwaji, Haida Grizzly Bear by Bill Reid.
The Obverse of the $200 (Two Hundred Dollars) Gold Coin bears an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.
The specifications of the $200 (Two Hundred Dollars) Gold Coin are:
Denomination: $200 (Two Hundred Dollars); Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 31.16 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Edge: Serrated; Serialised Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes; Presentation Case: Yes; Year: 2020. Designers: (Reverse) Bill Reid, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt.
The specifications of the $1 (One Dollar) variant:
Denomination: $1 (One Dollar); Metal Composition: Three-ply Brass plated Steel; Coin Quality: Circulation; Weight: 6.27 grams; Diameter/Size: 26.5 mm; Edge: Plain; Designers: (Reverse) Robert-Ralph Carmichael , (Obverse) Susanna Blunt; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020.
The specifications of the 25 Cents variant:
Denomination: 25 Cents; Metal Composition: Three-ply Nickel finish plated Steel; Coin Quality: Circulation; Weight: 4.4 grams; Diameter/Size: 23.88 mm; Edge: Serrated; Designers: (Reverse) Emanuel Hahn, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt; Minted by: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020.
Six variants of the Commemorative Coin have been issued in the $2 (uncoloured), $2 (coloured), $1, 25 Cents, 10 Cents, 5 Cents and $200 (Gold) denominations.
The Reverse of the $2 (Two Dollars) Coin features Xhuwaji/Haida Grizzly Bear by Bill Reid on the inner core and extending onto the outer ring.
On the top portion/upper periphery of the outer ring, two images of a maple leaf appear within the line pattern.
A banner at the bottom of the outer ring bears the inscriptions "BILL" and "REID", in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Haida artist's birth, while "2020" is centred between two security marks that consist of a maple leaf within another maple leaf.
The selectively coloured $2 (Two Dollars) Coin design features the same Reverse design encircled by a ring and enhanced with colours of red, white and black.
On the Obverse, both versions of the $2 (Two Dollars) Coin feature the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.
The specifications of the $2 variants are:
Uncirculated Coin with applied colour:
Uncirculated Coin:
Denomination: $2 (Two Dollars); Metal Composition: Bi-metallic; Weight: 6.9 grams; Diameter/Size: 28.0 mm; Coin Quality: Uncirculated; Mintage: 10,00,000 pieces; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020; Designers: (Reverse) - Bill Reid, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt.
The Reverse of the $200 (Two Hundred Dollars) Gold Coin features an engraved rendering of Xhuwaji, Haida Grizzly Bear by Bill Reid.
The Obverse of the $200 (Two Hundred Dollars) Gold Coin bears an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right.
The specifications of the $200 (Two Hundred Dollars) Gold Coin are:
Denomination: $200 (Two Hundred Dollars); Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 31.16 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Edge: Serrated; Serialised Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes; Presentation Case: Yes; Year: 2020. Designers: (Reverse) Bill Reid, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt.
The specifications of the $1 (One Dollar) variant:
Denomination: $1 (One Dollar); Metal Composition: Three-ply Brass plated Steel; Coin Quality: Circulation; Weight: 6.27 grams; Diameter/Size: 26.5 mm; Edge: Plain; Designers: (Reverse) Robert-Ralph Carmichael , (Obverse) Susanna Blunt; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020.
The specifications of the 25 Cents variant:
Denomination: 25 Cents; Metal Composition: Three-ply Nickel finish plated Steel; Coin Quality: Circulation; Weight: 4.4 grams; Diameter/Size: 23.88 mm; Edge: Serrated; Designers: (Reverse) Emanuel Hahn, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt; Minted by: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020.
Denomination: 10 Cents; Metal Composition: Three-ply Nickel finish plated Steel; Coin Quality: Circulation; Weight: 1.75 grams; Diameter/Size: 18.03 mm; Edge: Serrated; Designers: (Reverse) Emanuel Hahn, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt; Minted by: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020.
The specifications of the 5 Cents variant:
Denomination: 5 Cents; Metal Composition: Three-ply Nickel finish plated Steel; Coin Quality: Circulation; Weight: 3.95 grams; Diameter/Size: 21.2 mm; Edge: Plain; Designers: (Reverse) G.E. Kruger Gray, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt; Minted by: Royal Canadian Mint; Year: 2020.
For other interesting posts on the Coins and Banknotes of Canada, please visit the following links:
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