Description
In 1927, three circulation coin designs were chosen to commemorate Confederation’s Diamond Jubilee; alas, they never made it onto a single coin. Ninety years later, the Royal Canadian Mint is re-visiting some of Canada’s coin lore: we’ve dug deep in our vaults to retrieve these concepts and bring them to life in this three-coin set, which artfully bridges the past and Canada 150.
SPECIFICATIONS
SRP: $269.95
Item: 160230
UPC: 6-23932-08437-7
Mintage: 5,500
Finish: Reverse Proof
Packaging: Maroon clamshell with standard black beauty box
Artist: Gustav Hahn and J.E.H MacDonald
Face Value: 1 cent
Composition: 99.99% fine silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Edge: Serrated
Face Value: 5 cent
Composition: 99.99% fine silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Edge: Serrated
Face Value: 25 cent
Composition: 99.99% fine silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Edge: Serrated
SPECIAL FEATURES
- A behind-the-scenes peek: A glimpse of the Royal Canadian Mint’s archives!
- Joining two milestones: On the 150th anniversary of Confederation, we look back on history to re-visit proposed coin designs from another milestone year: Confederation’s Diamond Jubilee in 1927!
- 90 years in the making: This marks the FIRST time these designs have appeared on a coin, and they may be the only coin designs submitted to the Royal Canadian Mint by Group of Seven co-founder J.E.H. MacDonald and renowned muralist Gustav Hahn!
- A careful balance: Our team of engravers poured over every little detail of the original sketches in order to interpret each artist’s vision, while adapting it for today’s engraving techniques and finishes.
- A design that stands out: The matte field puts the focus squarely on the beautifully engraved elements that truly shine!
- Order today: Similar tribute sets have sold out quickly—don’t miss out on this opportunity to own a piece of history
DESIGN
All three coins feature the unused circulation coin designs intended to commemorate Canada’s Diamond Jubilee in 1927. Working with the original sketches (and little else), the Royal Canadian Mint’s engravers set out to interpret each artist’s vision as though the art had been entrusted to them today, to mark Confederation’s 150th anniversary.
The 90-year-old concepts have been painstakingly adapted for modern engraving techniques—including a reverse proof finish that allows the more brilliant engraved elements to shine bright against the matte backdrop. The one-cent coin features an Art Nouveau-inspired design by Canadian artist Gustav Hahn (1866-1962), with a bough of maple leaves encircling the commemorative dates “1867-2017”. The five-cent coin by Canadian artist J.E.H. MacDonald (1873-1932) features a crowned lion gripping a maple leaf as it stands perched on a rock, which represents the changing Canadian landscape cradled by the sea; beneath the forepaw is Canada’s motto, “A MARI USQUE AD MARE” (“From Sea to Sea”), while the commemorative dates “1867” and “2017” are inscribed above the lion. A second design by MacDonald graces the reverse of the 25-cent coin, and centres on a soaring view of the iconic Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. The clock tower soars high above the clouds and is surrounded by a ribbon-wrapped laurel of leaves, from which hangs four bells—an ode to the Dominion Carillon, which was inaugurated on July 1, 1927, during the Diamond Jubilee festivities. Each bell bears engraved numbers that combine to form the commemorative dates “2017” and “1867”.
