Description
This 2015 large $50 pure silver proof coin marks the 100th anniversary of Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae writing his iconic poem “In Flanders Fields”. The coin contains just over five ounces of pure silver, and as a pure silver coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, it is GST/HST Exempt. With an extremely low mintage of just 1500 pieces, this is likely to be a scarce and highly sought after collectible.
The Design:
The design combines colour and detailed engraving to create a scene of remembrance at a soldier’s grave. Two Canadian soldiers are seen with their hats removed and heads bent down. One soldier is standing to the left of the stone grave, the other is soldier kneels on one leg in quiet reflection. Vibrant poppies are in the background along with the first line of John McCrea’s poem. (“In Flanders fields where poppies blow” and “Au champ d’honneur les coquelicots”.) The front is engraved with the word “CANADA,” the date “1915-2015”, and the denomination “50 dollars”. The back has a portrait of King George V.
“In Flanders Fields”:
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (a Canadian physician in World War I) was inspired to write the poem on May 3, 1915, after presiding over a funeral of a fellow soldier.
His references to the red poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the poppy being used as one of the world’s most recognizable symbols for Remembrance Day.
