Every year, the Royal Canadian Mint releases a variety of spectacular commemorative coins. These celebrate the history, nature, people and culture of Canada. Among the 2022-dated Royal Canadian Mint releases is a truly eye-catching piece intended to mark both the holiday season and support a fundraising effort by the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
The Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway is a historic railway that stretches from Montreal to Vancouver and north to Edmonton as well as south into the United States. This stretch of rail covers seven of Canada’s provinces. Built between 1881 and 1885, the railway is both a part of the country’s history and a testament to industrial success. Until 1975, the railway was a major part of the transportation infrastructure of Canada and one of its largest and most powerful companies.
Today, the Canadian Pacific plays a smaller but still significant role in moving freight and people around the country. However, many Canadians likely know the railway less for its services and more for its beloved holiday tradition.
Annual Canadian Pacific Food Bank Fundraiser
Since 1999, the Canadian Pacific Railway has helped raise money for food banks by sending brightly decorated trains to communities in Canada and the States. The trains pull a special, modified boxcar that is used as a concert stage. This concert has attracted some impressive acts and helped to collect more than 4.9 million pounds of food and $19.4 million to help food banks.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated that the 2020 and 2021 concerts be held virtually, the tradition continues. It will bring holiday cheer to families around the country during November and December. Plus, it will help to raise money and supplies to help feed hungry mouths.
The Holiday Train Lenticular Coin
The Canadian Pacific Railway holiday tradition is an extremely admirable effort that has both brought joy to many Canadians and helped those in need. To help celebrate this, the Mint released a special holiday train coin for its 2022 series of commemorative Canadian coins. Despite the date, this coin is already available at retailers like Colonial Acres.
The 2022 Canada 50-Cent CP Holiday Train Lenticular Coin is a true sight to behold. On the reverse is a stunning colour image of a Canadian Pacific train travelling in front of snowy mountains bearing the Canadian and U.S. flags. It is also decorated with a holiday wreath on the front.
Of course, the “headline act” of the coin is its lenticular printing. If the coin is tilted, the image changes to reveal holiday lights along the train that light up the snow around it. This perfectly captures the holiday visage of the train that so many Canadians are used to seeing every year.
The coin is a 50-cent piece that weighs 12.61 grams. It is slightly larger than a standard 50-cent coin at 35 millimetres. The quality is a modified specimen.
Lenticular Printing
Lenticular printing is a special technology that allows two images to be printed on the same surface. The process involves creating lenticular lenses, specially shaped bumps, on the coin. The two images are printed on these lenses such that when the surface is tilted, the images smoothly transition from one to the other. This process can also help create illusions of depth. Though not exclusive to coins, this process is a perfect fit for colourful and festive commemorative coins.
Order Canadian Coins for Your Holiday Season
Colonial Acres Coins has a huge catalogue of coins from the Royal Canadian Mint and around the world. Whether you are shopping for gifts or just want something to add to your collection, we have something that can work for you. Check out all the 2022 Royal Canadian Mint releases as we add them to our catalogue. Place your order today.