“Star Trek” is a television series that premiered in the mid-1960s. Though it only lasted a few seasons, it has proven hugely influential. It still has an enthusiastic following of fans from around the world. If there are Trek fans on your holiday shopping list, collectable Star Trek coins from the Royal Canadian Mint make a thoughtful gift.

The Original Series

The original “Star Trek” was created by television producer Gene Roddenberry and debuted in 1966. Set approximately 300 years in the future, it told of the adventures of the crew of the Starship Enterprise. It only ran for three seasons, though five were planned. Devoted fans saved the series from cancellation after the second season with a letter-writing campaign. Though the third season would be its last, it made it possible to show reruns in syndication, where the series connected with a new audience and grew in popularity.

The original series featured Canadian actor William Shatner as Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, the pointy-eared, half-alien second officer, as well as a cast of characters and actors that was both racially and ethnically diverse.

The 1960s were a turbulent decade of social turmoil. The series dealt with some serious issues, especially racism. In some respects, it was ahead of its time, featuring the first interracial kiss on television. At the time, with the threat of nuclear war still looming heavily, science fiction tended to be dystopian and nihilistic. “Star Trek” stood out for showing a vision of a hopeful future in which human beings eventually learned to value and appreciate one another and extend the hand of friendship to beings from other worlds.

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued commemorative “Star Trek” coins featuring beloved characters from the original series, including Captain Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and Lieutenant Uhura. There are also coins recreating scenes from iconic episodes such as “Mirror, Mirror,” “The Trouble With Tribbles,” and “The City on the Edge of Forever.” 

The Spin-Offs and Movies

By the 1980s, “Star Trek” had become a cultural touchstone, leading Roddenberry to start thinking about another series with a new cast of characters that could address the issues that rose to prominence during a new decade. There have been multiple spin-offs since then. Here are a few of the most notable:

• “The Next Generation”: Takes place approximately 100 years after the original series and features Patrick Stewart as Picard, captain of the Enterprise-D. A commemorative coin features an unforgettable scene of the ship escaping from the Borg, an alien adversary introduced in TNG. 
• “Deep Space Nine”: The only spin-off to be set on a space station rather than a spaceship. Avery Brooks stars as Sisko, the commander of the outpost. “DS9” is known for being grittier and less optimistic. A commemorative coin features a unique top view of the space station against a colour painting of the Wormhole, an important part of the setting. 
• “Voyager”: Features Kate Mulgrew as Kathryn Janeway, captain of a starship stranded in a remote part of the galaxy when chasing a group of outlaws. The two crews have to cooperate with one another to get home. A commemorative coin depicts the USS Voyager on its long journey. 

“Star Trek” was also adapted to the big screen for a series of films. The first five featured the cast of the original series, the sixth had the presumed-dead Captain Kirk encounter the crew of the Enterprise-D for one final adventure, and three more featured the “Next Generation” cast. The film series has since been rebooted to reimagine the adventures of the crew of the original Enterprise with a cast of new actors.

The Fandom

Star Trek fans interact in online groups, hold watch parties, and gather at pop culture conventions, where they wear costumes, listen to speakers, and buy merchandise. The Royal Canadian Mint has issued multiple commemorative coins celebrating “Star Trek” in its various iterations, including one featuring portraits of all the main series’ captains. Find the perfect gift for the Star Trek fan in your life at Colonial Acres Coins.