$20 for $20 Series: Canoe, Canada, 2011, 1/4oz

Description

The Canoe

“The canoe has become as much a part of the Canadian visual lexicon as the Canada goose, the beaver and the maple leaf,” says artist Jason Bouwman, explaining his design for this $20 pure silver commemorative coin.

“This design shows a young person enjoying a recreational outing. The boy breaks from paddling to dip his hand in the water…and touches the past – the reflection reveals an early native paddler (or voyageur) in a traditional birch-bark canoe as it also appears on the early silver dollar of 1935. This concept is both intimate and sentimental and is striking in its unique composition. It tells a story of respecting our ancestry and sharing a love of this land.”

Ottawa, Ontario, December 6, 2012 — The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to be the recipient of a Krause Publications 2013 Coin of the Year award, as its 2011 $20 pure silver commemorative coin known as “The Canoe” won in the Best Silver Coin award category. This award will be presented to the Mint on February 2, 2013 at the World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany. The Mint was also honoured to receive nominations in the following categories: Best Gold Coin; Most Historically Significant Coin; Most Artistic Coin and Most Inspirational Coin.

“This remarkable silver coin captures an idyllic Canadian scene and is yet another example of the Mint’s commitment to celebrating and preserving Canada’s history, culture and values,” said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO. “Receiving recognition by Krause Publications once again this year is the latest proof that the Mint’s coins continue to be internationally renowned for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship.”

“The Canoe” coin design features a young person enjoying a recreational outing. The boy breaks from paddling to dip his hand in the water…and touches the past – the reflection reveals an early native paddler (or voyageur) in a traditional birch-bark canoe as it also appears on the early silver dollar of 1935. It tells a story of respecting Canada’s ancestry and sharing a love of this land. The coin sold out of its mintage quickly in 2011, making it one of the Mint’s success stories of that year.

Krause Publications of the United States publishes World Coin News and Numismatic News, in addition to many acclaimed numismatic catalogues and research publications. The annual internationally recognized Coin of the Year competition established by Krause Publications receives nominations from an international consortium of mint representatives and numismatists. The judging was conducted by an international panel of the world’s leading mint officials, medalists, journalists, central bank and museum officials.