New Coin Issues

A Centenary of the Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Mint has released a series of coins to commemorate the centenary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The centennial commemoration series features a fine silver proof $1, gold proof $100, and rose-gold plated $1 which is available solely as part of a seven-piece Canadian circulation coin set.

Designed by artist Neil Hamelin, the gold $100 coin depicts the RCAF’s roundel in the background, with a maple leaf in its centre, and a De Havilland DH-82C Tiger Moth plane flying above a runway in the foreground. ‘Sic Itur ad Astra’ (Latin for ‘Such is the pathway to the stars’) is inscribed below the central image on a banner accompanied by stylised maple leaves, similar to the current RCAF badge.

The gold coin also utilises traditional engraving to create the Tiger Moth, in addition to the use of laser engraving and special frosting for the RCAF roundel.

Mintage of the coin has been limited to 1,500 pieces.

Designed by artist Jason Bouwman, the silver $1 coin features the RCAF in the centre, with the Force’s history and aviation fleet represented by four aircraft depicted above the maple leaf. A De Havilland DH- 82C Tiger Moth symbolises the RCAF’s early years; the McDonnell Douglas CF-188 Hornet its fighter fleet; the Lockheed CC- 130 Hercules its fixed-wing aircraft fleet; and the Boeing Vertol CH-147 Chinook its helicopter fleet, respectively.

Three of the aircraft have a contrail (vapour trail) behind them, blending into the RCAF tartan on the bottom left of the design. Laser engraving has been utilised to give the tartan dimension. Several planets and orbit rings on the top left of the coin represent the RCAF’s future and space division, with two further rings running across the maple leaf – intended to represent the centennial years and what has been achieved over the last 100 years.

The Air Force’s motto (‘Sic Itur ad Astra’) also features on this coin, but in a less direct form, with several stars representing the phrase pictorially. A flaming parrot tulip is depicted at the bottom of the coin, representing ‘Rescue’, as one of four tulip bulb types specially selected to commemorate the RCAF’s Centennial in gardens across Canada and at the Canadian Tulip Festival this year.

Mintage of the coin has been set at 35,000 pieces.

The rose-gold plated $1 coin features the same design as the silver $1 version but as mentioned, is exclusively available as part of a wider coin set which also features one each of the circulation $2, $1, 50c, 25c, 10c, and 5c coins. The selective rose gold plating of the commemorative appears on the maple leaf and the coin rim. Mintage has been limited to 25,000 sets.

All three of the commemorative centennial coins feature the Steven Rosati effigy of King Charles III on the reverse, which was chosen as Canada’s official circulation effigy last year (see CMN November 2023).

US Mint Releases Harriet Tubman Coins

Following the unveiling of the designs for the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Program and subsequent special coin striking ceremony at the Philadelphia Mint (see CMN July and November 2023), the US Mint has now released the coins to the public.

The programme includes three coins, a $5 gold coin, $1 silver coin, and a half dollar clad coin, in recognition of the bicentennial of Harriet Tubman’s birth. Each coin commemorates an aspect of Tubman’s life and work as an abolitionist and social activist, with prominent elements including various portraits of her, together with inscriptions of her seven core values, an image of clasped hands, Civil War-era imagery including boat and tents, and silhouettes of people helping each other cross a bridge, with the Big Dipper constellation pointing to the North Star in the background.

Further information about the commemorative programme and the designs can be found here.

US Mint Begins Penultimate Year of AWQ Programme

The US Mint has begun the third, and penultimate, year of its American Women Quarters programme with the release of its first 2024 coin honouring Reverend Dr Pauli Murray.

Rev Murray was an important social justice advocate during the twentieth century, working as a poet, writer, activist, lawyer, Episcopal priest, and a staunch advocate for civil rights, fighting against racial and sex discrimination.

She published ‘States’ Laws on Race and Color’ in 1950, an examination and critique of state segregation laws throughout the nation, which is considered key to the foundation of arguments posed during Brown v. Board of Education – a landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 that ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional and paved the way towards integration in the United States.

Designed by US Mint Artistic Infusion Program artist Emily Damstra and sculpted by the Mint’s Chief Engraver Joseph Menna, the coin’s reverse depicts Murray’s face within the shape of the word ‘HOPE’. According to the Mint, the design and specific word choice is ‘symbolic of Murray’s belief that significant societal reforms were possible when rooted in hope’.

As with the other coins in the AWQ series, the obverse design features Laura Gardin Fraser’s portrait of George Washington.

To mark the launch of the coins, the US Mint and The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum held a free community day at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore, Maryland state. Titled ‘Historic Change: Celebrating the Activism and Impact of Rev Dr Pauli Murray’, the day aimed to provide attendees with the option to collect one of the quarters and learn further information about Murray’s life and her leadership in the civil rights movement, as well as her dedication to community service in the city.

Belgium Commemorates EU Council Presidency Role

Belgium has begun issuing a new €2 coin design to commemorate the country assuming the role of the Presidency of the EU Council, which rotates every six months amongst the bloc’s member states. Produced by the Royal Dutch Mint, and issued by the Royal Belgian Mint, an estimated 2 million units are set to leave the country and circulate around Europe.

The obverse of the coin depicts a flock of 27 swallows in flight, symbolising the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). Swallows were chosen due to their nature of moving together, with each bird able to move within the group, intended to symbolise this ability of each of the members of the EU.

Belgium’s country code, ‘BE’, is inscribed within the group of swallows, with one swallow leading the group – again, just as the birds naturally do, and symbolising the country leading the bloc during its Presidency.

‘BELGIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2024’ features at the bottom of the coin. The outer ring of the coin features the twelve stars of the European Flag.

As with all other circulating commemoratives issued by eurozone countries, the new coin has the same technical specifications, with the reverse design remaining the standard Map of Europe design by Luc Luycx.