Description
This coin pays tribute to both Canadian nursing and the introduction of women into the Canadian military. Mintage 10,000. As a pure silver coin, this item is GST / HST exempt.
The Design:
The coin features Georgina Pope in the foreground and, in the background, three military women from the last century whose careers Pope helped to pioneer, including a nurse from the First World War, a member of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service from the Second World War, and a female member of Canada’s military today. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Georgina Pope:
As one of four volunteer nurses, Georgina Pope was given the rank of lieutenant—to travel to South Africa to assist British troops in the South African War. This appointment was a significant moment in the evolution of women’s participation in the Canadian military. For the first time, women acting as nurses were given a military rank as well as the salary attributed to that rank. It is because of Georgina Pope and women like her, today’s Canadian Forces, including all branches of the Service are open to women. This special coin celebrates the legacy and achievements of Georgina Fane Pope, a pioneer of Canadian nursing whose work helped to pave the way for Canadian women in the military.
