Description
Marking the 125th anniversary of his birth, this 2019 $20 fine silver coin pays tribute to Billy Bishop – Canada’s greatest flying ace from the era of the First World War. Bishop was a master of the dogfight, combining daring bravery and exceptional flying skill over many missions into enemy territory. During the Second World War, he played an important role in recruiting for the Royal Canadian Air Force and in promoting the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. For many, he was and is a Canadian hero. Mintage is limited to 7,500 coins. GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
Pilots shared a special bond with their planes. This coin shows Billy Bishop with his first plane, a Nieuport 17 that he nicknamed Little Daisy, with a full-colour portrait of the Canadian hero in the foreground. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt with “20 DOLLARS” and “ELIZABETH II D.G. REGINA” engraved along the outer edge of the coin.
Billy Bishop:
Born on February 8, 1894 in Owen Sound (Ontario), Bishop was 23 years old when he downed his first German plane on his first mission in March of 2017. By the end of the War, he had 72 victories to his credit, ranking only third behind the 80 claimed by Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s legendary Red Baron.
