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Wednesday 16 June 2021

1894) The Bluenose, Canada: Centenary Anniversary (1921-2021): Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has brought out a $100 Gold Coin celebrating the milestone of the iconic schooner: Year of Coin 2021

1894)  The Bluenose, Canada: Centenary Anniversary (1921-2021): Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has brought out a $100 Gold Coin celebrating the milestone of the iconic schooner: Year of Coin: 2021:

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has released its annual $100 gold coin which marks the centenary anniversary of the launch of Bluenose, the Grand Banks fishing schooner whose racing feats and indomitable spirit earned it the title of “Queen of the North Atlantic.” 

The Obverse and Reverse of the $100 Gold Coin placed against a background of the blueprint of the schooner, as well as, a photo of the original vessel

The design that gave Bluenose the gift of speed also gave the schooner its grace and majesty. 

The Reverse of the Bluenose $100 Gold Coin placed against a background image of an Ocean

Initially, W.J. Roué’s (1879-1970) first design for Bluenose specified a waterline length of 36.6 metres (120 feet, one inch) which was actually too long to qualify for the International Fishermen’s Race.

 The maximum allowable length was 44.2 metres (145 feet) and a waterline length of 34 metres (112 feet) which meant Roué had to submit a revised design that would ultimately become his masterpiece.

 A further modification in terms of aesthetics was made by Roué to accommodate a request from its captain. The forecastle or upper deck of the sailing ship was raised by 30 centimetres (one foot) in order to give the crew more headroom, which meant the ship’s topside and bow were also raised. 

In the Smith and Rhuland shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, the construction methods were the same ones that had built more than 100 vessels, but Bluenose's design set it apart. Roué, had envisioned a sleek-looking schooner that would be a "combination of Gloucester and Nova Scotian vessels, with the depth of the former and the breadth of the latter." Through theory and calculations, Roué drafted the blueprints for a vessel with a large hold for her catch carrying capacity and a hull that was optimized for reduced resistance in water—giving her speed that was a benefit in her fishing and racing careers.

Roué's first design for was too long to qualify for the International Fishermen's Race—the maximum allowable length was 44.2 metres (145 feet) and a waterline length of 34 metres (112 feet)—so Roué submitted a revised design that would become his masterpiece.

The only modification Roue made to the design was to accommodate a request from Captain Angus Walters. The forecastle was raised by 30 cm (1 ft.) to give the crew more headroom, which meant the ship's topside and bow were also raised.

Bluenose was launched on March 26, 1921. It took another two weeks for the ship to be ballasted, rigged and fitted out in preparation for its maiden voyage to the Grand Banks.The design that gave Bluenose the gift of speed also gave the schooner its grace and majesty. 

Bluenose Specifications:

Vessel no. 150,404, registered at the Port of Lunenburg, N.S., in March 1921.

Length: 43.6 metres (143 feet)  *not including bowsprit

Waterline length: 34 metres (112 feet)

Displacement tonnage: 258 tonnes (285 tons)

Beam: 8.2 metres (27 feet)

Draught: 4.85 metres (15 feet 10 inches)

Sail area: 930 square metres (10,000 square feet).

The Commemorative Gold Coin:

The Royal Canadian Mint has released their annual $100 gold coin which marks the centenary anniversary of the launch of Bluenose, the Grand Banks fishing schooner whose racing feats and indomitable spirit earned it the title of “Queen of the North Atlantic.” The design that gave Bluenose the gift of speed also gave the schooner its grace and majesty. 

The Reverse of the $100 (Canadian) Gold Coin - 2021, which highlights the ingenuity and elegance of the ship's design. 

The representation of a newly launched Bluenose is seen in this design, before being fitted with sails and rigging presents a different view of the fishing vessel, while the hull drawing is a nod to the design that made it a racing champion.

This face of the coin, celebrates Bluenose through two images that are precisely aligned to create a contrasting effect. In the background, the hull drawing focuses on W.J. Roué's streamlined design and the clean lines that contributed to the ship's successful racing career. In the foreground, the image of Bluenose without sails and dressed in an array of signal flags is based on a launch day (March 26, 1921) photograph, but the use of a forced perspective emphasizes the bow and creates a sense of movement. 

The hull drawing of Roué’s streamlined design and its lines in the background is a nod to the design that made it a successful racing champion. Above the primary design is the text "CANADA" with the year of issue "2021" and the denomination of "100 DOLLARS" is placed below.

The Obverse of the $100 Gold Coin features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, designed by Susanna Blunt. The peripheral inscriptions are "ELIZABETH II. D.G.REGINA"

Highlights:

- This Coin is part of the Bluenose Anniversary which will continue on multiple coins this year

- With a mix of different finishes and techniques, this coin's engraved design is just as detailed and complex as previous $100 pure gold coins

- A different view: For this design, Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) engravers opted for a new perspective that emphasizes the bow and shows Bluenose without its sails and rigging.

- This is the only Gold Coin in the year-long (2021) celebration of the 100th anniversary of Bluenose, the ship that captured a nation's heart and lifted its spirit! It is the pride of Nova Scotia and a Canadian icon, and it has also been a big part of the Royal Canadian Mint's story since 1937.

- A Serialised Certificate is included with this coin.

- Packaging: The coin is individually encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.

- 'Bluenose' is an official mark adopted and used by the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage pursuant to the Trade-marks Act (Canada)

The specifications of this Coin are:

Country of issue: Canada; Year: 2021; Denomination/Face Value: $100 (One Hundred Dollars); Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 7.8 grams; Diameter/Size: 20.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 2,000 pieces;  Presentation Box/Case: Yes; Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes, Serialised.

- Each $100 coin is individually encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded custom case along with a Certificate Of Authenticity (COA) and black outer protective box







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











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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: Year of Coin issue: 2020

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