Description
This 2016 $20 captivating coin captures a view of “The Universe” using a unique combination of color and glowing colour, along with a specially selected borosilicate fine art coloured glass that also glows in the dark. Mintage is limited to 8,500. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The design by Canadian artist Ardell Bourgeois features a depiction of the NRC (National Research Council) Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory near Penticton, British Columbia. It is here that the 26 metre John A. Galt Telescope is pointed up to the sky to capture and transmit the radio wavelengths originating from space. Every coin has its own unique one of a kind swirl and each one is captured in a globule of borosilicate glass that has been handcrafted and applied to the coin. The glass was also given added luminescence, adding a captivating glow to the silver fume swirl, in the shape of a wave. The blue sky in the background provides a beautiful backdrop for the engraved building, identified by the NRC-CNRC logo. The blue sky and white clouds also hides the presents of glow in the dark stars as they would appear in the night sky over the observatory. To the left a hand crafted resilient embellishment: which is a representation of a radio signal received by the telescope. By working a mix of glass and silver fume, extremely high temperatures and a luminescence are applied in order to replicate the wave shape.
Pondering the universe is as old as the ages. It’s the common thread that connects us to every civilization that has come before. And while today’s high-tech world has brought greater understanding, new questions always arise, eyes still gaze upwards on starry nights, and we still wonder, “Who are we? Why are we here?” There are numerous observatories around the world probing the universe to find answers to humanity’s ageless questions.
