Commems Collection Canadian: 2013 Canadian Arctic Expedition Centennial

Canada commemorated the centennial of its 1913-18 Canadian Arctic Expedition (CAE) with a wide range of commemorative coins that included circulating 25-cent coins plus silver and gold coins for collectors. Among the precious metal offerings were a 2013 Silver Dollar (SD) and a 2013 Silver $3 coin - a common commemorative design was shared by the circulating coins and the Silver Dollar.

2013 Canadian Arctic Expedition Centennial - Selectively Gold-Plated Silver Dollar (2013 Proof Set)


Here's a previous post I made about the Silver $3 "Life in the North" coin: 2013 Life In The North Silver $3 Coin

The CAE was sponsored by the Canadian Government. Its mission was to explore the expansive western Arctic region to learn more about the vast, frozen territory and to blunt potential exploration and claims over newly-discovered areas (islands) by the United States. The CAE explored and surveyed the Canadian Arctic as well as northern Alaska during its years of investigation.

The Expedition party consisted of 100+ people, including scientists from multiple disciplines and First Nations Iñupiat, Inuvialuit and Inuinnait who assisted as hunters and guides; some of the included aboriginal people were native Alaskans.

The coin was struck on a planchet of 0.9999 fine silver, with a diameter of 36.07 mm and a weight of 23.17 grams - the then-current standard for Canada's Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) Silver Dollars.

The obverse of the SD presents a right-facing portrait of Queen Elizabeth II - designed by Susanna Blunt. The coin's commemorative reverse design, created by Bonnie Ross, is based on a photograph taken during the CAE. It presents a group of three men standing next to a dogsled, with its dog team standing at the ready. A large compass forms the artistic background for the scene. The dual dates "1913-2013" are seen at the lower rim on the coin's reverse.

I generally prefer designs that tend toward "interpretive" vs. "photo-realistic" but this SD's design works for me - I think it captures the harsh reality of the environment faced by the CAE.

The collector SD was available as a standalone Proof coin, as well as a standalone Brilliant Uncirculated coin; it was also available as a Selectively Gold-Plated Proof coin as part of the 2013 Fine Silver Proof Set. The pricing, maximum mintage and final sales figures for each version are as follows: Standard Proof: $59.95 / 40,000 / 25,625; Brilliant Uncirculated: $54.95 / 20,000 / 13,325; Silver Proof Set: $229.95 / 25,000 / 20,338; Specimen Set: 99.95 / 20,000 / 9,787. (Note: Sales figures are from the Mint's 2013 and 2014 Annual Reports.)


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