2399) The Ghost Ship of Chaleur Bay & the Northumberland Strait, Canada: The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has issued a $50(Fifty Dollars - CAN) Silver Proof Coin depicting a glow-in-the-dark apparition of the Centuries old legend: Year of Coin issue: 2022:
A new ghostly tale:
Earlier coins from the Royal Canadian Mint have featured - a ghost bride (2014), a headless brakeman (2015) and the ghost of Bell Island (2016), or had a haunting experience at an Ottawa hostel (2019). Now, the Mint has issued a Coin featuring a - "GHOST SHIP".
The Legend:
For more than 200 years, there have been reports of an eerie apparition in Chaleur Bay and in the Northumberland Strait. Some describe a glowing ball of fire; others have seen a manned, three-masted ship with sails all aflame.
Those who have attempted a rescue remember approaching the glowing vessel, only for the ship to suddenly vanish without a trace…
In Canadian ghost-lore, the Ghost Ship of Northumberland Strait is a ghost ship said to sail ablaze within the Northumberland Strait, the body of water that separates Prince Edward Island from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in eastern Canada.
The legend of the ghost ship in Northumberland Strait dates back at least 200 years, and it is typically described as a beautiful schooner that has three or four masts with pure white sails, all of which are said to become completely engulfed in flames as onlookers watch.
The Northumberland Strait separates Prince Edward Island from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and according to local folklore, the ghost ship appears before a northeast wind, and is a forewarning of a coming storm.
Other Sightings:
A number of legends and ghost stories exist that describe sightings of the ghost ship over the years and include descriptions of distinctive outlines of the ship's masts and phantom crew members climbing them before the vessel supposedly either completely burns, sinks or vanishes.
According to legend, in 1900, a group of sailors boarded a small rowboat in Charlottetown Harbour and raced toward the phantom ship to rescue the crew only to have the ship vanish.
In 01/2008, an onlooker told a local newspaper he believed he saw the legendary phantom ship in the Tatamagouche Bay, describing it as a "bright white and gold ship". Another Tatamagouche Mountain resident also claimed that he saw the ship one night in October.
Natural explanations:
In 1905, a New Brunswick scientist suggested that the legend may have arisen due to natural electrical phenomena such as St. Elmo's Fire that had been subject to "interpretation as the flaming rigging of a ship."
Other explanations suggest that the illusion may have been created by a bank of fog reflecting moonlight.
Music and popular culture:
- The ghost ship has become more widely known in recent years in part due to a popular song by Lennie Gallant, a Canadian singer-songwriter. It debuted in his 1988 album, "Breakwater", and is called "Tales of the Phantom Ship".
- In 06/2014, Canada Post issued a special stamp depicting the Northumberland Strait ghost ship. The stamp was issued on Friday the 13th as part of a series of Canadian ghost story stamps.
The Coin:
The Reverse of the $50 (Fifty Dollars - CAN) Silver Proof Coin features a glow in the dark embellishment.
When one views the Coin’s Reverse under a black light (included), which will activate the technology. Innovative Colour Reveal technology makes it possible to witness a “ghostly” apparition on this pure silver coin.
When the Coin is not viewed under a Blacklight flashlight. Also, on can see the High Relief and serrations on the Edge of the Coin.
The Obverse of the $50 (Fifty Dollars - CAN) Silver Proof Coin features a right facing effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The peripheral inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II. D.G.REGINA. 50 DOLLARS."
The specification of the 50 Dollars (CAN) Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: Canada; Date/Year: 2022; Coin Theme: "The Legend of the Ghost Ship in Chaleur Bay and in the Northumberland Strait"; Denomination/Face Value: 50 Dollars - CAN; Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness pure Silver (Ag), with black light-activated colour reveal; Weight: 157.6 grams; Diameter/Size: 62.25 mm; Embellishments: Glow in the Dark; Coin Quality: Proof; Edge: Serrated; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint (RCM); Mintage: 1,500 pieces.
Packaging: Each Silver Proof coin is encapsulated and presented in a branded Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box, accompanied by a serialised Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
- Black light flashlight included with each coin. The engraved scene is stunning in any light, but the true story unfolds when one views the Coin’s Reverse under a black light (included), which will activate the technology. Innovative Colour Reveal technology makes it possible to witness a “ghostly” apparition on this pure silver coin.
- This is one of Canada’s most famous ghost stories. Is it an optical illusion? Is the ship doomed to haunt our eastern waters? A fascinating story presents itself on this coin.
Canada's Unexplained Phenomena Coin Series Posts on this blog:
Links to posts on Russian, Ukraine, Transnistria Coins, Banknotes and stamps:
Links to other posts on Ukrainian Coins/Banknotes on this Blog:
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8) 1075 years since Princess Olga (890-969 AD), Ukraine: A Silver Proof Coin brought out by the National Bank of Ukraine,minted by the Ukrainian Mint: Year of issue: 2020
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Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete" A very interesting ghost story."
Thank you, Trikha sahab.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing."
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
DeleteAshok Borate has commented:
ReplyDelete"šš".
Thank you, Ashokji.
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