2019 $20 100th Anniversary of the First Non-Stop Transatlantic Flight - Pure Silver Coin

On June 14, 1919, a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber lifted off from St. John’s, Newfoundland and flew straight into the history books. British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown persevered through a rough takeoff, equipment failures, fog, ice and snow before crash-landing the next day in County Galway, Ireland. In doing so, they became the first aviators to cross the Atlantic Ocean in less than 72 consecutive hours — a new milestone in aviation history.  

In 1969, Canada Post issued a 15-cent stamp to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight. Now, 50 years after that special issue — and on the centennial of this aviation first — the Canadian stamp is forever immortalized on this stamp-shaped, 99.99% fine silver coin. Mintage is limited to just 5,000.  HST/GST exempt.

The Design:

Engraved on the stamp-shaped reverse is a colour reproduction of a 1969 Canadian postage stamp, designed by Robert William Bradford and issued on the 50th anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight. The original 15-cent stamp features a stylized map of the North Atlantic Ocean behind the Vickers Vimy bomber piloted by British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brow, who completed their historic flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Clifden, Ireland, on June 14-15, 1919. Like the original issue, the design includes the word “CANADA”, the historic flight date “1919”, and the stamp’s “15”-cent denomination. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.