Commems Collection Canadian: 2021 Bluenose Centennial

In 2021, Canada celebrated the 100th Anniversary of one of its most iconic symbols - the two-masted Bluenose schooner. The schooner was designed by respected naval architect William J. Roue of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was constructed at the Smith & Rhuland shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, and was launched on March 26, 1921.

Bluenose Schooner - 1921

(Image Credit: Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management. Public Domain, Canada and United States.)

Though constructed as a commercial fishing boat - a purpose for which it proved to be quite successful - the Bluenose schooner made its mark in Canadian history via its many racing victories. The ship won the International Fishermen's Trophy on its first attempt in 1921, and went on to win the race several more times.

Note: The International Fishermen's Trophy was a race for fishing schooners of the North Atlantic Ocean; it was active from 1920 to 1938 (but did not take place every year). The race was mostly held in the waters off the coast of Nova Scotia, but its final race took place off the coast of Massachusetts.

The iconic sailing ship first appeared on Canada's coinage in 1937 via a design by Artist/Sculptor Emanuel Hahn - the 10-cent coin.

The Regular issue version of the 2021 Bluenose 36 mm non-circulating legal tender ("NCLT") commemorative silver dollar ("SD") was released in January 2021 to kick-off the Mint's year-long celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the iconic schooner; the standard issue was a traditional Proof coin with a maximum mintage of 30,000 coins. The SD was also available as a Proof coin with selective gold plating within the Mint's 2021 Fine Silver Proof Set (Maximum Mintage: 20,000), as well as a Brilliant Uncirculated coin in the Mint's Special Edition Proof Set (Maximum Mintage: 30,000).

Note: The Brilliant Uncirculated SD release was noteworthy due to the fact that the Royal Canadian Mint stopped striking Brilliant Uncirculated versions of its annual SD with its 1999 release.)

2021 Bluenose Centennial Silver Dollar


The 100th Anniversary of the Bluenose was a major event for the Royal Canadian Mint. It issued multiple collector commemorative coins - gold, silver and nickel-plated steel - to celebrate the anniversary. Coins included: a $100 Gold coin, three versions of a circulating 10-cents coin (via several package options) and the multiple versions of the Silver Dollar described.

The obverse of the SD presents a left-facing portrait of King George V - a tribute to the portrait that appeared on Canadian coinage in 1921 - the year of the Bluenose's launch; it is the work of Sir E.B. MacKennal. (The portrait is my favorite Royal portrait - it always strikes me as the epitome of what a King should look like, very regal!)

The coin's commemorative reverse design presents the Bluenose in a novel manner: it combines a live-action depiction of the schooner (at left) with a blueprint/architectural style drawing of the schooner's hull (at right). The ship's sails are realistic throughout the depiction. Extending in the foreground are seen the arms of William J. Roue (the schooner's designer), his right hand holds a drawing pencil and in between his arms is seen his signature (it appears on the original ship plans). The design is the work of Canadian marine artist Yves Berube. (Berube has created more than a dozen coin designs for the Royal Canadian Mint.)

To learn more about Berube, see his web site here:

- Marine Art Gallery of the Atlantic

The individual SD had an Issue Price of $69.95 (CAD). It is packaged in a standard black clam shell case, inserted into a black outer box - no fancy/graphic 'beauty' box. The Fine Silver Proof Set with the selectively gold-plated version was issued at $234.95 (CAD) and the Special Edition Set with the Brilliant Uncirculated SD was issued at $99.95 (CAD).


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other Canadian numismatics stories, see: Commems Collection