Description
This 2016 $20 fine silver coin is the third coin in the First World War Battlefront Series. Struck in a near flawless proof finish with selective gold plating over an engraved surface, the design commemorates Canada’s role in the First World War and pays tribute to the brave soldiers who fought at the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel. The coin weighs just over one ounce of pure silver, and has a limited mintage of 10,000 coins. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The design by Canadian artist Silvia Pecota conveys the bravery and tragedy of the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel. A young Canadian soldier is in the foreground advancing through No Man’s Land towards enemy lines. The terrain provides little protective cover for the soldiers, as they contend with the barbed wire defences. The intensity of the artillery and machine gun fire is evident throughout the scene particularly in the foreground where the soldier takes a crouched stance while moving forward with his rifle and bayonet. In the background, the snared appearance of the “Danger Tree” is particularly symbolic as it marks the spot where the Newfoundlanders would face the most intense fire, and where so many of them would fall. The lower portion of this poignant image is framed by a banner; in its center, selective gold plating showcases the winged figure of "Victory," as it appeared on the Victory Medal that was awarded to the allied soldiers of the First World War.
The coin is engraved with the word "CANADA," the date "1916” on one side of the coin and “2016” on the other " and the words "The Battle of Beaumont-Hamel" “La Bataille De Beaumont-Hamel”
