Canada’s legendary tall ships have put to sea once more, this time on an exquisite half-kilo collector’s item. Selectively gold-plated and brimming with engraved details, the compass-like design by Neil Hamelin and Yves Bérubé points to history in every direction—from HMS Discovery in the Pacific to the legendary Bluenose, the “Queen of the North Atlantic fishing fleet.”
Design:
The reverse design brings together the four legendary vessels featured in the Royal Canadian Mint’s 2016 Tall Ships Legacy series. Like a compass, the cardinal directions divide the coin’s reverse into four gold-plated quadrants. Each quadrant features a depiction by maritime artists Neil Hamelin and Yves Bérubé. The northeast quadrant, “AMAZON”, features the Nova Scotia brigantine more famously known as the ghost ship Mary Celeste. The southeast quadrant, “HMS DISCOVERY”, features the ship commanded by Captain George Vancouver during his exploration of Canada’s Pacific coast. The southwest quadrant, “MARCO POLO”, features the New Brunswick-built passenger ship that brought immigrants to Australia in the mid-19th century. The northwest quadrant, “BLUENOSE”, features the Nova Scotia fishing schooner that became an international racing legend.
Selective gold plating is denoted by a “P” mark on the obverse, which features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Specifications:
Year: 2019
Grade: Proof
Denomination: 125 Dollars
Metal Content: 1/2 Kilo (502.99 Grams)
Purity: .9999
Mintage: 500
Manufacturer: Royal Canadian Mint
Diameter: 85.45 mm
Mint capsule, Presentation Box, Serialized Certificate