2018 (1918-) Canadian $20 First World War Battlefront Series: Armistice of Compiègne 1 oz Fine Silver & Gold-plated Coin

2018 (1918-) Canadian $20 First World War Battlefront Series: Armistice of Compiègne 1 oz Fine Silver & Gold-plated Coin

At 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the battlefields suddenly fell silent after four calamitous years that forever changed the world. The armistice signed near Compiègne, France, marked the beginning of the end of the First World War, as diplomatic wrangling replaced armed conflict in the quest for a much-desired peace that, sadly, would prove to be imperfect and short-lived. Far beyond re-defined borders, the story of Canada in the First World War is one of mud-soaked valour and misery in the trenches; of the introduction of new combat tactics and the modern machinery of war; and of individual contributions and collective sacrifices that led to the costly allied victory. When our combatants came home in 1919, they found a Canada that had been transformed by the war experience, emerging as fledgling nation whose international reputation was forged in battle at places such as Neuve-Chapelle, Ypres, the Somme, Passchendaele and Vimy, and during Canada’s Hundred Days.

Commemorate Armistice with a ‘winged’ tribute to all who served in the First World War.

Features

EIGHTH AND FINAL COIN IN OUR FIRST WORLD WAR: BATTLEFRONT SERIES: Our First World War: Battlefront series comes to a close with a final tribute to the Canadians and Newfoundlanders who bravely served in the Great War: the winged figure from the Victory Medal, which followed us on every step of this collectible journey.
A UNIFYING TRIBUTE: Previous coins in this eight-coin series all featured the winged figure from the 1919 Victory Medal as a design flourish; here, its gold-plated, sculpted beauty highlights the legacy of those who bravely served in a war that transformed Canada and shaped the 20th century.
EXQUISITE DETAILS: Slightly larger than the bronze-cast Victory Medal, this pure silver coin combines modern engraving techniques and finishes to bring the classic-styled allegory to life.
FEATURES A HISTORIC EFFIGY: Like all Canadian coins minted between 1914 and 1918, the coins in this retrospective series feature the effigy of King George V by Sir E. B. MacKennal, but with a touch of selective gold plating to add a golden shine.
A PACKAGED TIMELINE: The beauty box for your coin is the final piece to complete the set! When all eight coins are placed spine to spine, the boxes provide a timeline of the major Canadian battles of the First World War.

Design

The reverse commemorates the centennial of the armistice signed near Compiègne, France, on November 11, 1918—an agreement that ended the fighting across the Western Front. The image is a gold-plated reproduction of the winged figure of Victory by sculptor William McMillan (1887-1977), whose design graced the obverse of the Victory Medal issued within the British Empire in 1919. The full-length view of this classic-styled allegory finds Victory standing with her left arm raised, her right hand holding a palm branch; behind her, engraved rays that represent hope for a peaceful future fill the field and heighten the luminous nature of the sculpted design. The reverse includes the words “CANADA” engraved above the figure, along with the double dates “1918 – 2018” that mark the centennial, and the bilingual “title” of this final chapter in the story of Canada on the battlefields of the First World War.

Packaging

2018 (1918-) Canadian $20 First World War Battlefront Series: Armistice of Compiègne 1 oz Fine Silver & Gold-plated Coin comes encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a graphic beauty box and Certificate of Authenticity.

Specifications

Face Value: $20
Mintage: 10,000
Composition: 99.99% Silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Finish: Proof