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 Replies: 42 / Views: 7,891 |
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Moderator
 Canada
10456 Posts |
For context, four years ago, I submitted a design proposal to the RCM for 2017. I realize that Canada's 150th would dominate the coin themes, but with more than 300 different issues of NCLT, I thought my chances were pretty good, given the strong connection to Canadian culture and the formation of Canada itself was linked to this idea. This past week, I took great pride in celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC). Founded in 1842, the GSC is Canada's oldest scientific institution. With a long and extraordinary record of scientific accomplishment and discovery it has provided basic information on the Canadian landmass for use by all Canadians. The GSC was instrumental in the confederation of the provinces in 1867 (resources, namely coal, is what drove the union of the maritime provinces with Upper and Lower Canada). Our proposal reflected Canada's heritage, culture and values. I had submitted this proposal in April of 2013 with letters of support from the Geological Association of Canada, Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences and the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association... In four years, despite occasional emails - there was almost no communication, and several emails I sent were unanswered... This was an exercise in futility, for Canada's highest decorated citizen (ever) - Sir William Logan, and Canada's oldest scientific institution - simply cannot compete with Bugs Bunny and Star Trek. Maybe I should have asked Gatewest or Canadian Coin & Currency to submit the idea - since they being the mints largest NCLT customers, they have had success with several thematic coins suggested by them being struck. Anyhow - after we celebrated our 175th anniversary, I fired off a letter to the current director of product development (note, the RCM has had four different directors for product development, in four years). This letter will also be published in the Geological Association of Canada newsletter (GEOLOG) and I am considering submitting it to the CN Journal also. And, I am sharing it here, on one of the largest coin forums on the internet... (the letter was dated and sent on April 19, 2017). Quote:Attention: Pierre Justino Director Product Development Royal Canadian Mint Dear Pierre, Four years ago, I had submitted an idea for a coin submission to mark one of Canada's most important anniversaries - the 175th Anniversary of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC). The GSC is Canada's oldest scientific institute, formed a full 25 years before confederation and was instrumental in the confederation of the provinces in 1867 (resources, namely coal, is what drove the union of the maritime provinces with Upper and Lower Canada). The geology of Canada is what made this country strong. Through the revolving door of RCM Product Development Directors, (Frances Baltzan, Kate Holmes, Shawn Henderson), I have received little or no communication regarding the original submission idea, despite in 2013 having the full support of the Geological Association of Canada, Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences and the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association ( RCNA). Recently, my last email simply went unanswered. Having seen the Royal Canadian Mint strike coins for anniversaries of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Navy, Montreal Canadiens, Parks Canada, Coast Guard, not to mention celebrations of Superman, Bugs Bunny and Star Trek and even the 5th anniversary of the penny going our of circulation, surely, something as culturally important to Canada as the GSC's 175 anniversary and Canada's most decorated citizen (ever) - Sir William Logan - would have merited a commemorative strike. I realize that Canada 150 is currently the big event of the year, but Canada would not be the same country it is today, were it not for the GSC's early efforts prior to and after confederation in 1867. Last week, we celebrated the 175th anniversary (April 14). We released a website to show this on the Government of Canada's science.gc.ca page: http://science.gc.ca/eic/site/063.n...h_00006.html Through all our celebrations last week, I was also saddened by the lack of communication and effort from the Royal Canadian Mint. Instead of proudly showing off a GSC commemorative coin and encouraging others to buy one. now, I only get to share my story of disappointment. Sincerely, Roger — Research Scientist Geological Survey of Canada / Commission geologique du Canada Natural Resources Canada / Ressources naturelles Canada "Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert OppenheimerContent of this post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses...0/deed.en_USMy eBay store
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Moderator
 Canada
10456 Posts |
Our logo, which would have been perfect for a coin - circular, bilingual, attractive, and most importantly, Canadian.  "Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert OppenheimerContent of this post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses...0/deed.en_USMy eBay store
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Valued Member
Canada
115 Posts |
Sad story. I would have bought that coin.
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Rest in Peace
Canada
1360 Posts |
A really great effort, and a fantastic coin design, but come on, you're asking the impossible. Somebody at the mint management actually thinking, and providing you with a reasonable answer in a timely manner. Well, with luck, maybe in 2022 for the 180th.
I think next year, is a Care Bears anniversary!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9149 Posts |
That is very sad that in 4 years nothing happened. I hope they read this and you get an answer, even though it will be too late.
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Moderator
Canada
10456 Posts |
The Royal Geographical Society of Canada did strike and release their own medal, to celebrate the 175th anniversary. They produced a wonderful medal with both Sir William Logan and the GSC's logo. The RCGS also awarded the GSC with the gold medal for 2017. At least there is some cool exonumia for this event...  "Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert OppenheimerContent of this post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses...0/deed.en_USMy eBay store
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Rest in Peace
Canada
1360 Posts |
I'd be very proud to have that one in my collection! Wow. Impressive.
Make it pure gold, put a $175 face value, and charge $1200 for a 1/2 ounce. I bet it would have sold out at the mint.
An additional two ounce silver for purchase at $175 would also have sold out.
Edited by Dcadon
04/20/2017 10:35 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
634 Posts |
Thanks for educating us on this great, very relevant, CDN institution- RCM should/could have been very creative with a "geological" (silver & gold) theme - A head scratcher indeed  Hey, at least they remembered Trivial Pursuit - Edited by Electrum
04/20/2017 11:00 am
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Moderator
Canada
10456 Posts |
The RCM was, in part, formed as a refinery in 1908 due to all the gold coming out of the Timmins camp and silver from Cobalt in the early 1900s.... "Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert OppenheimerContent of this post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses...0/deed.en_USMy eBay store
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
634 Posts |
Are there any actual historians working for RCM ? Edited by Electrum
04/20/2017 11:33 am
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Moderator
United States
187544 Posts |
You are the man, SPP-Ottawa.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
4911 Posts |
SPP, that's a very strong letter, and I hope finally you get some well deserved answers..sorry things didn't go as you had hoped when you started this journey 4 years ago. also, thank you very very much for the history lesson and all this information that I never knew about, once again I must say I always learn something new from your posts.
Feel free to call me Will.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10029 Posts |
Good for you! THis is a ridiculous thing they did not commemorate considering they make a new design for other things like you mention. Putting Bugs and Star Trek above factual history is shameful.
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1461 Posts |
Somewhat related to the topic, here is some GSC history...I'm sure Roger is aware of who that is...This would have been a year before Mr Bell retired from GSC. Hunting rocks old school...Via rail...   |
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Valued Member
Canada
217 Posts |
What a drag. I would have loved to have owned that coin. The Sir William Logan medal is pretty cool, but are you sure that is Mr. Logan and not Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2425 Posts |
Passionate with numismatics and your Geology career and presenting a great idea for a new (relevant) commemorative coin only to get shluffed off for Bugs and Star Trek themed coins has got to be a huge disappointment. One would expect at least some sort of correspondence from the Mint.
I am sorry it didn't work out SPP.
That's a stunning looking medal.
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Replies: 42 / Views: 7,891 |
Posted 04/20/2017 10:12 am
