Description
The year 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the poem In Flanders Fields, which was written by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae amid the horrors of the Second Battle of Ypres in May 1915. Through his hauntingly poignant poem, McCrae succeeded in giving a voice to the 60,000 Canadians who would lose their lives in the First World War, and ignited an international effort to keep their legacy alive. To mark this anniversary, this fine silver coin is a solemn remembrance of those who bravely served their country abroad in a time of war–lest we forget.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:
SRP: $89.95
Item Number: 144527
UPC: 6-23932-06628-1
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Mintage: 10,000
Weight (g)*: 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Face Value: $20
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Laurie McGaw
Packaging: Maroon clamshell with custom beauty box
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- A poignant commemoration of Canadian John McCrae’s famous poem that is often recited during annual remembrance ceremonies in many countries.
- The poem served as the inspiration behind the adoption of the poppy as a widely recognized memorial symbol, making this coin a fitting tribute to the brave Canadians who served their country in times of war–not only in the First World War, but in other conflicts that followed.
- Crafted from 99.99% pure silver, with a limited mintage 10,000 worldwide.
- Finely detailed engraving is beautifully enhanced through the use of multiple finishes that bring added depth and dimension to the stirring design.
- A striking collectible for commemorators, and a prestigious addition to any Canadian military- or history-themed collection.
- A symbolic gift for those in the military, or as a tribute to loved ones who were lost at war.
DESIGN:
The reverse design by Canadian artist Laurie McGaw transports the viewer back to 1915 with an intricately engraved image that evokes the opening lines of John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields. With his helmet removed and head bent down in mourning, a lone Canadian soldier stands before a makeshift gravesite for fellow soldiers who were killed in battle; their final resting place resembles the Belgian fields near the Ypres salient, which provided the natural setting for McCrae’s haunting poem and contributed to the theme of the continuing cycle of life amid the devastation of war. To the left of the soldier, a large image of a poppy offers a close view of the flowers that have become synonymous with remembrance; these same wild blooms are also seen to the right of the soldier, emerging from the upturned earth to grow “between the crosses, row on row, that mark our place.” In the glow of the sunset, two birds in flight echo McCrae’s words: “and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly…”
