Last updated on May 2nd, 2024 at 03:33 pm
Last Updated on May 2, 2024 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
Some silver commemorative coins highlight the rich history of the country that minted them. This reimagined 1905 Arms of Dominion of Canada coin from the Royal Canadian Mint is no exception. Exquisitely detailed, it’s inspired by a popular historic postcard from 1899. This coin makes an excellent addition to any coin collection, especially those that focus on telling the story of Canada’s history.
About the Coin’s Design
When you design a coin like this, you want the artist to have a sterling reputation and impeccable qualification. With Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, the Royal Canadian Mint found such a person.
Cathy Bursey-Sabourin served as the painter for the arms of the current Governors-General of Canada and the Coat of Arms of Canada. She also painted the previous four renditions of each, as well. With a role as the Fraser Herald and principal artist of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, her eye for historic designs goes unparalleled.
With her history and talents, she wisely made only minor adjustments to the original seven-province shield that Canada used in the late-19th and early 20th centuries. The shield contains the original arms of the founding provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. It also showcases the arms of the first provinces added after Confederation: British Columbia, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. The design also pulls from the common iconography of Canada, such as maple leaves and a beaver.
Special Features and Specifications
This coin is a rarity due to its low mintage. Only 600 of these coins will be created for sale. Furthermore, the design is a brand new one for the Royal Canadian Mint. These features make it important to act quickly, as the price on the resale market is expected to climb dramatically.
For the detail-oriented, there are also some key specifications to keep in mind with this coin:
- Composition: 99.99% silver
- Finish: Proof
- Diameter: 102.1 mm
- Weight: 1,006 grams
- Certificate: Serialized
- Edge: Serrated
The History Behind the Coin
The design and features of the coin help set it apart. However, the real conversation piece comes from the history this coin represents. Canada began its history as several separate provinces. It wasn’t until the Confederation that these initial provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec, became united under one name: The Dominion of Canada. Under this title, the quartered arms of each province were combined to serve as a common seal for this new nation.
During the 1870s, new provinces confederated with the Dominion of Canada. Manitoba joined in 1870. The following year Canada added the province of British Columbia. Two years later, in 1873, Prince Edward Island joined, too.
As each new province confederated with this new nation, they added their respective coat of arms to the Arms of Dominion of Canada. The top row represented Ontario and Quebec. The second row showed off New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba. The bottom row consisted of British Columbia and Prince Edward Island.
During this time period, it was common for dishware and postcards to feature a country’s arms. The design turned these items into collectible pieces of art. The design of this coin was inspired by one of these postcards that were originally issued in 1899. With this coin, you hold not just an impressive work of art but a true piece of Canada’s history.
Colonial Acres Coins
Colonial Acres Coins offers a diverse lineup of collective and commemorative coins. Our selection is second-to-none, and we also ship internationally to coin collectors around the world. Check out our selection of coins from the Royal Canadian Mint on our website today.
