Description
Our history is undeniably linked to the oceans, seaways and lakes that make up our great Canadian landscape. These bodies of water are notoriously unpredictable and can be treacherous; from our distant past to recent times, Canada’s history is filled with incidents of lost vessels—including H.M.S. Erebus and H.M.S. Terror, which are at the centre of an enduring maritime mystery: the lost Franklin expedition.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS:
SRP: $109.95
Item Number:144687
UPC: 6-23932-06645-8
Composition: 99.99% fine silver
Mintage: 7,000
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Face Value:$20
Finish: Proof
Edge: Plain with edge lettering
Artist: John Horton
Packaging; Maroon clamshell with custom beauty box
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- The second in the Lost Ships in Canadian Waters series that commemorates well-known vessels lost in Canadian waters, and the stories that have emerged from the events surrounding their final fate.
- This coin serves as a unique commemoration of the ill-fated Franklin expedition and its importance to the scientific exploration of Canada’s Arctic region.
- A stunning colour portrait of H.M.S. Erebus and H.M.S. Terror framed within the coastlines where the ships were abandoned in 1848.
- A prestigious addition to your Canadiana, history or commemorative display.
- The coin is also a poignant reminder of the 2014 discovery of H.M.S. Erebus by a Parks Canada-led expedition, which was a truly historic moment for Canada; as one of this century’s most important maritime archaeological discoveries, the find has added a new chapter to a story that has captivated so many, and may finally offer answers to the enduring questions that surround the expedition’s demise.
DESIGN:
The reverse design features Canadian marine artist John Horton’s depiction of the Franklin expedition’s H.M.S. Erebus in the foreground, with H.M.S. Terror to starboard. Edging their way through ice-filled waters, the three-masted wooden vessels are seen travelling at a reduced speed under shortened canvas. The cool colour palette recreates the blue hues of the sky in daylight and the darker, icy waters of the Arctic. This stunning portrait situates the ships off of the northwest coast of King William Island, providing geographical context for their location when first deserted in 1848. Edge lettering bearing the names “H.M.S. TERROR” and “H.M.S. EREBUS” further commemorates the two vessels and the 129 men who were lost.
