Last updated on October 22nd, 2018 at 09:39 am
Last Updated on October 22, 2018 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
If you pay attention to numerous art sculptures found in many Canadian cities, you will notice that they are the work of Emanuel Hahn. In addition to being a famous and celebrated artist, he was also known for some of the most beautiful and significant coin designs. The work of this sculptor has made several coins for the Royal Canadian Mint valuable and highly sought after. This is a good opportunity to learn more about him and his impact on numismatics.
Who Was Emanuel Hahn?
A naturalized Canadian citizen, Emanuel Otto Hahn was born in Germany in 1881. In 1888, he moved with his family to Toronto and studied at several Canadian schools and colleges. During his education, he studied modeling and commercial design at the Toronto Technical School and Ontario College of Art. He also studied Industrial Design and then continued his studies in Stuttgart, Germany. In 1912 he was hired by the Ontario College of Art as a modeling instructor. He continued to head the sculpture department until his retirement in 1951.
During his career, he created several iconic coin designs for the Royal Canadian Mint and worked on several Canadian monuments. Some of the most notable designs among his work include:
- The Sir Adam Beck Memorial (1934) on University Avenue at Queen Street West in Toronto
- The Monument To Ned Hanlan (1926) on the Toronto Islands
- The design for Canadian stamps issued in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
- The Robert Burns Monument (1902) in Allan Gardens, Toronto
- The Bell Telephone Memorial, Brantford Ontario, on which Hahn worked with W.S. Allward (1917)
Royal Canadian Mint Coins: Emanuel Hahn Iconic Designs
A number of significant war memorials and medals have Hahn’s signature on them. However, what makes Emanuel Hahn an icon in the world of numismatics is the fact that he also designed some of Canada’s most celebrated and distinctive coins. Royal Canadian Mint coins that feature Hahn’s design include:
- The Bluenose Dime
- The Voyageur Silver Dollar
- The Caribou 25 Cent Piece
- The 1939 Silver Dollar, which commemorated the Royal Visit of King George Vi and Queen Elizabeth
Emanuel Hahn’s Impact On Canadian Currency
The Department of Finance invited Hahn to create a design for a silver dollar in 1934 that was to commemorate the reign of King George V’s silver jubilee. After corresponding with the Royal Canadian Mint and the Royal Mint in London to learn about coin minting, he submitted a drawing of a voyageur and a First Nations man in a canoe. Hahn even studied paintings of Frances Anne Hopkins and designs of traditional canoes in order to ensure accuracy. His design was approved and continued to be used as the standard pattern for the Canadian silver dollar through the decades until 1987 when the “Loonie” was introduced.
Hahn’s voyageur silver dollar became a huge success. As a result, he was again invited to submit designs along with several other artists for new Canadian coins to be released in 1937, at the time of King George VI’s ascension. After creating and proposing 16 sketches, his Bluenose and caribou designs were both selected for the new coins. Canada’s circulating coinage today still features all of Hahn’s designs put into circulation in 1937. That is why Emanuel Hahn’s impact on Canadian currency is legendary. If you are Canadian and have a “Hahn original” in your pocket, you can feel truly proud.
Colonial Acres Coins: The Place To Learn More About Canadian Currency And Emanuel Hahn
Proudly serving for decades as the center for all things and materials related to numismatics, Colonial Acres Coins is an excellent place to check out if you are interested in coins. You can find plenty of information, rare coin pieces and numismatics knowledge and experience with Colonial Acres’ expert team. Regardless of whether you are interested in Royal Canadian Mint coins, international currency or iconic legends like Emanuel Hahn, visit Colonial Acres to learn more and maybe enrich your collection.