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Friday 14 August 2020

1449) North-west Territories, Canada: 150th Anniversary (1870-2020): A $30 (Thirty Canadian Dollars) Silver Proof Coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, celebrates the milestone: Year of Coin issue: 2020:

1449) North-west Territories, Canada: 150th Anniversary (1870-2020): A $30 (Thirty Canadian Dollars) Silver Proof Coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, celebrates the milestone: Year of Coin issue: 2020:

The year 2020 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Northwest Territories entry into the Confederation in 1870, an event that greatly shaped the Canadian nation.

The Royal Canadian Mint has brought out Commemorative Silver Coins which celebrate the 150th Anniversary milestone  of the establishment of Canada's Northwest Territories - one of the largest regions of land in North America. At 1,144,000 square kilometres (or 442,000 square miles), it represents 34 percent of Canada's landmass.


The Reverse of the $30 (Thirty Canadian Dollars) Silver Proof Coin placed against a background image of the Map of the North-west territory

Created in 1870, three years after the Canadian Confederation was established from land once known as Prince Rupert's Land, this immense expanse of land was named after Prince  Rupert of the Rhine, a nephew of King Charles I, who was the first governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. Along with a portion of land known as the Northwestern Territory, so named due to its location in co-relation to Prince Rupert's Land, these two entities came together and were transferred from the Hudson's Bay Company to the government of Ottawa on 15.07.1870.

Presently, the land once known as the Northwestern Territory has seen several boundary changes since 1870, with some of its territory being divided to enlarge or create some of the present Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

The last border change came on 01.04.1999, with the creation of a new territory named "Nunavut" to the East.

At 1,877,787 square kilometres (725,018 square miles) in size, it makes this territory Canada's largest and most Northern Territory in the Confederation.

The Northwest Territories land is vibrant with cultures that have been here since time  immemorial have their own roots and cultural heritage, language, arts and traditional life-styles

The Northwest Territory is predominantly populated by Indigenous or First Nations peoples with European Canadians as the second largest demographic group.

Appointed as such in 1967, prior to this, a series of settlements  and forts acted as the Northwest Territories administrative seat. The Northwest Territories unlike the Provinces, had separate administrative and legislative capitals between 1911 and 1967.

Interestingly, while Canada has two official languages - English and French - the Northwestern Territories have nine more, which makes for a total of 11 official languages - Chipewyan, Cree, Tlicho, Gwich'in, North Slavey, South Slavey, Inuktitut, Innuvialuktun, Inuinnaqtun, along-with English and French.

The Commemorative Coin:


The Reverse of the 30 Canadian Dollars Silver Proof Coin designed by Inuvialuk artist Myrna Pokiak is an artistic celebration of life in the Northwest Territories.

Beneath the Midnight Sun, migratory birds in flight symbolise a connection with the rest of Canada and the World. Landmarks (pingos, waterways) that define the North from the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean represent both the land and water that have nurtured countless generations.

A sash bearing an arrow pattern honours the Northwest Territories Metis, while below, the tipi represents the Dene. The Inuvialuit are represented by 11 ulus on the lower periphery - one for each of the official languages of the Northwest Territories. 

Just above the ulus, a young girl is drumming and dancing to the songs in her heart, representing an artistic expression of pride in the people and traditions that shape life in the North.

The Anniversary years "1870-2020" re engraved to the girl's right. The initials of the designer "MP" appear below the sash to the right periphery.


On the Obverse of the 30 Canadian Dollars Silver Proof Coin is seen an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, designed by Susanna Blunt.

The peripheral inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II. CANADA. D.G.REGINA,. 30 DOLLARS".

The specifications of this Silver Coin are:

Denomination: 30 Canadian Dollars; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 62.6 grams or 2.0 Oz; Diameter/Size: 50.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Edge: Serrated; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Mintage: 2,500 pieces; Designers: (Reverse) Myrna Pokiak, (Obverse) Susanna Blunt; Year: 2020.

 Each Coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint branded clamshell with a black beauty box and is accompanied by a serialised/numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).









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












30) Bill Reid (1920-1998), Haida Artist, Canada: 100th Anniversary (1920-2020) of the Birth of the Haida Artist IIluwas, known as Bill Reid: Commemorative $2, $1, 20 Cents, 10 Cents & 5 Cents Coins & $200 (Gold) Coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint: Yeat: 2020

31) North-west Territories, Canada: 150th Anniversary (1870-2020): A $30 (Thirty Canadian Dollars) Silver Proof Coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, celebrates the milestone: Yearof Coin issue: 2020


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