A few years ago, I posted about several of the special packaging options the
RCM had used for its NLCT commemorative silver dollars - sets the Charlton catalogue refers to as "derivatives." If you're interested, here are links to these posts:
1997 Canada-Russia Hockey Gift Set1997 Canada-Russia Hockey Stamp Set1997 Canada-Russia Hockey Coin & Pin Set1998 RCMP Centennial Dollar & Pin Set1999 Juan Perez Journal Set1999 Juan Perez Coin & Pin SetI recently became aware of two additional special sets that were not listed in my 2011 edition of the
Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins - Collector and Maple Leaf Issues. Tonight, I'll present the earliest release of the two - the 1993 Stanley Cup Centennial Philatelic-Numismatic Cover (PNC) jointly produced by Canada Post and the
Royal Canadian Mint.
In 1993, the hockey world celebrated the centennial of the first awarding of the championship trophy that would ultimately become known as the Stanley Cup (its original name was the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup). The trophy was donated by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, in 1892 with the intent that it be awarded to Canada's national amateur hockey champion.
The first team to receive the trophy was the Montreal Hockey Club of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. They finished the 1893 season atop Canada's Amateur Hockey Association (AHA) standings with a record of 7-1-0. The Montreal club successfully defended "the Cup" in 1894 by besting the Montreal Victorias 3-2 and the Ottawa Generals 3-1 in successive "playoff" games after the regular season ended in a four-team tie.
In 1910, awarding of the Stanley cup became the purview of the National Hockey Association (NHA), one of Canada's early professional hockey leagues. The NHA is the direct forerunner of the National Hockey League (NHL) which was formed in 1917. The Montreal Canadiens were launched as a member of the NHA.
Until 1926, teams from the top Canadian professional hockey leagues were eligible to compete and challenge for the Cup. Since 1926, however, only member clubs of the NHL are eligible to win the Stanley Cup.
In 1993, the Cup's centennial was celebrated by Canada Post (CP) and the
Royal Canadian Mint (
RCM) with a commemorative stamp and silver dollar, respectively.
The 43-cent stamp depicts an anonymous modern hockey team hoisting the Stanley Cup in triumph. The coin features a then-and-now design theme with a depiction of an 1893-era hockey player and an early version of the Cup in the background with current (circa 1993) views of a player and the Cup in the foreground; it was designed by Stewart Sherwood. The silver dollar is 36.07 mm in diameter, weighs 25.175 grams and is sterling silver (0.925 fine silver).
Foreshadowing future collaboration, the two worked together to create a special edition philatelic-numismatic cover that was released on the first day of issue for the commemorative $0.43 stamp. The cover features a proof version of the silver dollar inserted into an envelope that features an image of the original cup along with the CP stamp and a special first-day-of-issue postmark. The back of the cover features a brief history of the Stanley Cup.
The current Charlton does not list a production total or original selling price for the cover. The same two data points have thus far eluded my additional search efforts. If someone out there has this information, I would welcome hearing about it!
Otherwise, enjoy!
1993 Stanley Cup Centennial Official First Day of Issue PNC - Front 
1993 Stanley Cup Centennial Official First Day of Issue PNC - Back 
, that many folks are on the edge of their seats waiting for any updates I might be able to provide!
Posted 05/22/2016 05:20 am
