The Royal Canadian Mint honours a canadian triumph and sacrifice with a silver collector coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

OTTAWA, April 5, 2017

"As Canadians remember the sacrifices and achievements of our men and women in uniform at times of war, the Government of Canada is pleased that the Royal Canadian Mint has issued a silver collector coin to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge as an unforgettable turning point in Canadian and First World War history," said the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance. "This coin is a moving tribute to the service and sacrifice of those who bravely fought and prevailed at Vimy Ridge, when Canada and its Allies needed them."

"The Mint has a long history of crafting many coins honouring the sacrifices of Canadians at times of war and we are proud to maintain this tradition with a fine silver coin commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge," said Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.  "As a moment etched in Canadian history, as well as a permanent memorial to all Canadians who were lost or wounded in France during the First World War, Vimy Ridge has a special place in the hearts of Canadians which this coin will preserve for generations to come." 

Canadian artist Pandora Young designed the 99.99% pure silver coin whose reverse evokes the scene of the relentless artillery fire supporting Canadian troops in the innovative "creeping barrage" advancing towards Vimy Ridge on the horizon.  A close-up of a lone Canadian soldier, his face purposely omitted to symbolize all Canadians at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, stands in the foreground.  Selective gold plating on the soldier's uniform echoes the special significance of this battle in Canadian and world history.  The obverse of the coin features the gold-plated effigy of King George V, Canada's reigning monarch throughout the First World War.

The 2017 $20 Fine Silver Coin - First World War Battlefront Series: The Battle of Vimy Ridge has a limited mintage of 10,000 and retails for $112.95.  It is available for purchase as of April 5, 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.  

A two-dollar circulation coin commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge will be launched by the Mint this fall.

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