The Nobel Peace Prize is a coveted award bestowed upon the people who do the most to establish peace between various nations. In 1957, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Lester Bowles Pearson, a Canadian man who maintained peace between the Soviet Union and Great Britain, Israel and France. The Royal Canadian Mint issued a coin that commemorates Pearson’s heroic peacekeeping efforts, and if you’re interested in collecting Canadian coins that have a rich history, this is one you must add to your collection.

The History

Lester Bowles Pearson was a historian who worked for Canada’s Department of External Affairs. Right before World War II, he was sent to the Canadian High Commission in England, where he witnessed the breakdown of the League of Nations and saw the start of the war. During the war, he moved to Washington and started working on establishing a peacekeeping force for the United Nations. He became the president of the United Nations General Assembly in 1952 after the war ended and started to implement his ideas to keep the peace between nations.

In 1956, he witnessed a conflict that allowed him to put his ideas into action. The Soviet Union responded to an attack on Egypt by Great Britain, Israel and France by threatening to start a nuclear war. At Pearson’s urging, the UN dispatched a peacekeeping force to solve the dispute between the nations without engaging in a war that could cause the deaths of millions of people. His efforts caught the eye of the Nobel Prize organization, and he was a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Ultimately, he won the award and is forever remembered for his peacekeeping efforts.

Decades later, the Royal Canadian Mint decided to commemorate Pearson by creating a collectible coin in his honour. The Canadian Peace Dollar was created to reflect the peace and prosperity of the Canadian nation while remembering Pearson’s dedication to unity between the nations. Thousands of people collect the Peace Dollar, and although it has undergone minor changes throughout the years, it retains its original design that showcases the value of peace in Canada.

The Design

The heroic efforts of Lester Pearson to establish a peacekeeping force are forever commemorated with the Peace Dollar. Although the coin has been updated for 2023 with a rose gold finish, it maintains its 99.99 percent silver construction. The design is also the same as it has been since the series was introduced in 2020.

The obverse of the coin features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II upon the rose-gold finish. Her name appears along with the words “Canada Dollar” and “D. G. Regina” appear along the circumference of the coin.

The reverse of the Peace Dollar is what makes it truly unique. The allegorical figure of Peace is presented in silver, giving the portrait a stark contrast to the rose-gold finish of the rest of the coin. She wears a crown made of olive branches and maple leaves, signifying the Canadian commitment to good government, peace and order. The words “A Mari Usque ad Mare” arc above her head. The saying translates to the Canadian motto “From Sea to Sea.” Above her right shoulder is the year 2023, while the Latin word for peace, “Pax”, rests above the left shoulder.

Add the Peace Dollar to Your Coin Collection Today!

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