3447) Fine Silver Coin – The Sundial, A Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) First: A $20 (Twenty Dollars - CAN) Silver Coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint depicting a functional Sundial: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2024:
One of humanity’s oldest known timekeeping devices, Sundials can still function just as well today as in ancient times.
This horological device - one which measures time, was relied on to tell the time of day only when direct sunlight shines and by the apparent position of the Sun in the sky.
Its function which had no moving parts was quite simple, as the Sun appears to move through the sky, the shadow aligns with different hour-lines, which are marked on the dial to indicate the time of day.
The earliest sundials known from archaeological finds are recorded as shadow clocks around 1500 BC from ancient Egyptian, Indian and Babylonian astronomy.
It is likely that humans were telling time from similar shadow methods at an even earlier date. In the narrowest sense of the word, a sundial consists of a flat plate or dial with hour indications and a gnomon, the raised object on the face of the plate resulting in a shadow which serves to indicate the hour of the day during sunlight.
A sundial is capable of marking the passage of time within a few minutes of a watch if designed with precision and position, taking into account the observer’s geographic location and the time of year. Unfortunately, synchronising time with other sundials has two problems such as adjusting for the sun's irregular movement, and adjusting for the sundial's locations, especially when they are distant.
More than just an eye-catching garden adornment, the sundial is humanity’s oldest known timekeeping device—one that functions just as well today as it did in ancient times.
An elaborate and functional showcase of craftsmanship, this limited collectible adds a working sundial to one's coin collection.
A functional sundial coin—a Mint first!
The Coin:
CAN) Sundial Coin presented from various angles
A functional sundial for mid-northern latitudes, the coin’s time-keeping Reverse was designed by Canadian artist Anna Bucciarelli.
Serving as the base, the reverse is ornamented with acanthus leaves and edged with Roman numerals indicating the hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
At the bottom, a stylised sunflower—a heliotropic flower and a beloved symbol of the sun—supports the gnomon, which harnesses the power of sunlight and casts the measured shadow that helps determine the time of day.
The peripheral inscriptions are - "CHARLES III. CANADA. 2025. D.G. REX. 20 DOLLARS."
DID YOU KNOW?
- One of the oldest sundials in Canada is located across the street from the Ottawa facility, at the corner of Bruyère Street and Sussex Drive, where a matching pair of vertical sundials built in 1851 served as Ottawa’s first public timepieces.
- A sundial is capable of marking the passage of time within a few minutes if designed with precision, taking into account the observer’s geographic location and the time of year. Telling time by the movement of the Sun reveals the connection between the earth and the sky as first perceived by early humanity, our ancestors.
- There is a lot of circular symmetry to be found here: some of the organic details are emanating from the sunflower representation of the sun, which supports the ornate gnomon, while others convey a more spiral-like movement that echoes the passage of time.
Special features:
- This sundial coin is a first for us. This coin’s Reverse is not just an ode to humanity’s oldest known timekeeping device—it is an actual sundial, a Mint first!
- Frosted to perfection. The acanthus leaf motif has a timeless look that harkens back to a bygone era, while various frostings highlight different design elements and give the coin a more brushed appearance.
- Specially encapsulated. Each coin has been carefully placed inside a taller capsule that can accommodate the additional height of the gnomon.
- Low mintage. Only 5,000 sundial coins are available to collectors worldwide!
- Includes serialised certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.
- Packaging - The coin is encapsulated and presented in a black Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.
- A cast gnomon -
Standing upright on the coin’s Reverse, the cast gnomon—the angled pointer that casts the shadow—is rhodium-plated brass and styled to complement the coin base’s ornate design.
Take note of where the shadow’s outer edge lines up, and that should indicate the approximate local solar time. (Like any sundial, some additional adjustments may be required due to longitude and the time of year.)
The specifications of this Coin are:
Country of issue: Canada; Denomination: $20 (Twenty Dollars - CAN); Metal Composition: 99.99% pure silver (Ag); Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Cast Embellishment: rhodium-plated brass gnomon; Weight: 31.39 g or 1.00 Oz; Diameter/Size: 38.00 mm; Edge: Serrated; Coin Quality/Finish: Proof (P); Packaging: Black clamshell with black beauty box; Designer(s): Anna Bucciarelli (reverse), Steven Rosati (obverse).
Canada's Unexplained Phenomena Coin Series Posts on this blog:
New Generation Coin Series:
Links to "Star Wars: A New Hope™":
Links to posts on Boba Fett:
Other Links:
Links to The Bad Batch Coin Series:
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting and informative post 👍👍"
Thank you so much for visiting this post Trikha sahab.
Delete