I previously posted about the 2012 Rick Hansen silver $5 commemorative coin (Rick Hansen $5 Coin), but wanted to add a few words about a noteworthy "cousin" of the coin...As most regulars here know, the
Royal Canadian Mint (
RCM) does not only produce coins (circulation, collector and bullion). Throughout much of its history it has also struck medals and tokens for the Canadian Government as well as for private customers.
In such a capacity, the
RCM was engaged by the Rick Hansen Foundation to produce medals for the 25th anniversary of Rick's Man in Motion World Tour - a 2011-12 relay across Canada that recreated the trans-Canadian segment of Rick's original tour. The
RCM produced three different medals for the relay: the official Rick Hansen Medal, the Medal-Bearer participation medal and the souvenir medal.
The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay began in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador on August 24, 2011. This time out, however, it was not Rock who made the trek. The relay engaged over 7,000 others who were nominated or volunteered to run, walk or wheel across a roughly 250 metre segment of the relay's 12,000 kilometre route to Vancouver, British Columbia; the relay passed through more than 600 communities.
Those who were interested in being part of the relay had to enter the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay Contest. As part of their entry, prospective participants were asked to describe how they had "made a difference in their community through determination, courage, leadership or teamwork." The relay finished on May 22, 2012 at the Terry Fox Memorial outside of BC Place in Vancouver, BC.
The
RCM created the official Rick Hansen Medal, a large silver medal that was carried by the relay participants across Canada. The Official Relay medal was 85 mm in diameter, 8 mm thick and weighed ~12.85 ounces. It was struck in sterling silver (0.925 fine silver). The medal featured edge lettering in English and French: "Anything is Possible" / "Tout est possible."
Each of the relay Medal-Bearers received a smaller, 65 mm version of the medal in recognition of their participation. The medals were hung from a blue ribbon.
Following is the official description of the medal's designs as published by the
RCM:
Design Elements: Obverse
The design on the obverse (also referred to as the "face" or "front") of the medal consists of a series uniquely textured ribbons intersecting each other, implying motion, excitement and celebration.
The bilingual motto of the 25th Anniversary: "MANY IN MOTION - UNIS EN MOUVEMENT" is prominently engraved on one ribbon curving in a circular pattern. This feature is surrounded by three other ribbons textured with raised dots of varying diameters. The ribbons symbolize the long trails of the Man In Motion World Tour, as well as the waves of energy and inspiration Rick Hansen left in his wake.
The patterns of raised dots represent the many who have been inspired by Rick and his story and the many more who will be motivated to make a difference over the course of the 25th Anniversary Relay.
Hinting at the overcoming of obstacles and the opening of possibilities when one is inspired to realize a dream, parts of these bands extend beyond the circumference of the medal.
On the bottom left quarter are boldly engraved the words: "25 Years - Rick Hansen" in bilingual format.
Design Elements: Reverse
The reverse (also referred to as the "back") features mirror images of the motion ribbons found on its obverse. The forward angle of these ribbons evokes the journey ahead, as Rick Hansen and the many in motion continue to pursue their goals.
The reverse design is completed by the official logo of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary, which shows the enduring and inspiring silhouette of Rick Hansen on the original Man in Motion Tour.
The remaining surface of the medal features the intricate texture of the palm of an actual cycling glove worn by Rick Hansen on his Man in Motion Tour. This is the same glove which circled the globe again from space in August 2007, when Canadian astronaut Dave Williams brought it aboard a mission on the U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour
.
Every wrinkle and crease that was formed on this famous glove along Rick's historic journey is faithfully reproduced through a laser engraving process unique to the Royal Canadian Mint. Like a topographical map, the texture of the glove tells the story of the many hills and valleys through which Rick Hansen and his team persevered on the Man in Motion World Tour of 25 years ago.
The glove side of the medal was created using a technology that was recently developed on the Royal
Canadian Mint lasers. This laser technology makes it possible to simulate the relief of virtually any surface or texture using nothing more than a high resolution digital photo as a starting point.
The medal design is the result of collaborative efforts between the Royal Canadian Mint and the Rick Hansen Foundation. The
RCM also struck a small souvenir version of the medal that was available for purchase by the public. It was struck in copper-nickel and had a diameter of 35 mm. The medal did not have all of the detail seen in the larger medals, but did duplicate the official medal's core theme. The medal was placed in a bezel and inserted into a full-colour folder with bilingual informational text. The souvenir medal was struck at the Mint's Ottawa facility, the same facility used to create the official Rick Hansen Medal. The issue price for the piece was $14.95 CAD. Per the
RCM 2011 Annual Report (AR), 11,638 of the souvenir sets were sold; no sales were listed in the 2012 AR.
Purchasers of the medal had the opportunity to register their medal at a site established by the
RCM. Registration enabled the owner to post the story of how he/she made a difference in the lives of others and also triggered a supplemental donation to the Rick Hansen Foundation by the
RCM.
I mentioned in my previous post about the 2012 Rick Hansen $5 coin that I was able to purchase the Hansen coin for $27 CAD -- well under my goal of $40 CAD per coin! I used some of the savings to also purchase the 2011 Hansen souvenir medallion in the commemorative package; the medal cost me $7 CAD. So, even with the combined purchase, I was still $6 (15%) under my budget of $40 CAD per issue.
Here are a few images of my souvenir set:
2011 Hansen Medal in Holder: Front Cover
2011 Hansen Medal in Holder: Inner Left Panel
2011 Hansen Medal in Holder: Inner Right Panel
2011 Hansen Medal in Holder: Back Cover
Posted 08/14/2020 6:41 pm
