Royal Canadian Mint Silver Collector Coin Honours Canadian Bravery and Sacrifice on the 75th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid

MONCTON, NB, May 25, 2017

"Seventy-five years ago, soldiers from across Canada fought bravely and selflessly at Dieppe and paid a steep price in boldly attempting to breach enemy defenses in Canada's first army offensive of the Second World War," said Ms. Ginette Petitpas Taylor.  "The costly experience of Dieppe ultimately helped Canada and its Allies achieve success in later operations, including the D-Day offensive, and I am thankful that the Mint's new coin will permanently remind us that their sacrifices were not made in vain."

"The Mint's profound respect and admiration for the resolve and sacrifice of Canada's veterans and active troops shines bright in the many coins we continue to produce in honour of their exceptional service," said Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.  "We are proud to mark the 75^th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid in our own unique way and hope that this silver coin will help preserve the memory of our soldiers who fought for Canada and its values on that fateful day."

"It is important to remember the sacrifices that our soldiers made during the Battle of Dieppe 75 years ago," said Christina Alward, Executive Director, New Brunswick Command of the Royal Canadian Legion. "Today we honor their service and achievements as this commemorative coin is released and we must ensure that their memory lives on."

For the reverse design of this coin, Canadian artist Alan Daniel created a dramatic first-person perspective of the turmoil and danger through which our troops pressed on during the ill-fated amphibian raid on the enemy-occupied port of Dieppe, France.  The image of a Canadian soldier urging his comrades to advance towards the heavily-fortified Casino evokes the courage and determination of the Canadians who answered the call of duty despite insurmountable odds. The obverse of the coin features the effigy of King George VI, Canada's reigning monarch throughout the Second World War. 

The 2017 $20 Fine Silver Coin - Second World War Battlefront Series: The Battle of Dieppe has a limited mintage of 7,500 and retails for $92.95.  It has been available for purchase since March 7, 2017 by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca. The coin is also available at the Royal Canadian Mint's boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through the Mint's global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.  

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified company the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit. www.mint.ca