Released in 1993, this $20 sterling silver coin is the seventh release in Canada's acclaimed ten-coin series, Powered Flight in Canada: The First 50 Years. Celebrate Canada's aviation heroes and their groundbreaking achievements.

This piece honors the Fairchild 71C and James A. Richardson, a prominent Canadian businessman who played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's commerce and commercial aviation sectors during the early 20th century.

The Design

The reverse features the a Fairchild 71C landing on a northern lake along with a 24-karat gold plated cameo portrait of James A. Richardson. The obverse features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Dora de Pédery-Hunt.

The Fairchild 71C 

Developed in 1932 primarily for civil operations, the Canadian-built Fairchild 71C was a seven-seat utility monoplane evolved from the renowned Fairchild FC-2. It featured folding wings and an adaptable undercarriage that could be rapidly swapped between wheels, skis, or floats. While it operated chiefly as a freighter in Northern Canada, this versatile aircraft was also utilized for photographic surveys and technical training by the R.C.A.F. during World War II.