The Royal Canadian Mint is celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Library of Parliament with its first-ever concave coin, whose ultra-high relief shows off the amazing detail of the Library’s architecture, as seen from the inside of its domed ceiling. This coin was unveiled on January 28 before Senators, MPs and special guests assembled at an event held in the Library of Parliament.
“For 140 years, the Library of Parliament has been a vital source of support and inspiration to the legislators who built Canada into one of the world’s leading democracies,” said the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance. “The historical and cultural value of this institution has been masterfully captured by the Mint on a coin which is sure to evoke Canadian pride for generations to come.”
“The Library of Parliament stands as both an architectural treasure of the early days of Confederation and an enduring guardian of Canada’s parliamentary traditions,” said Sandra L. Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The Mint’s renowned innovation and craftsmanship bring to life the Library’s famous architecture with our very first concave coin.”
“Since the Library of Parliament opened its doors in 1876, it has contributed to Canada’s parliamentary democracy by supporting parliamentarians with customized information and authoritative research” said Sonia L’Heureux, Parliamentary Librarian. “Today’s launch of a unique commemorative coin by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrates this rich history and the impressive architecture of our iconic main Library building. We are delighted to mark this historical milestone in such an innovative way.”
Crafted of 99.99% pure silver and double-dated 1876-2016, the reverse side of this coin combines several innovations to capture a visually stunning panorama of the Library of Parliament’s neo-gothic interior. Its concave design evokes the airiness of its high-domed ceiling, while ultra-high relief engraving and an antique finish bring out the depth and detail of its many architectural features. This $25 face value coin is also a first for showing a convex effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side. Limited to a mintage 6,000, this coin retails for $159.95 CAD.
This coin can be pre-ordered as of January 29, 2016 by contacting the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca. As of February 2, the coin will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint’s boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.
Even aside from the concave component, the detail on this coin is extraordinary. I would challenge the US Mint to develop a coin (e.g., commemorative coin) with this much detail!