2015 Huronia Silver $3 "Error"

As part of its July 2015 release, the RCM issued a silver commemorative $3 coin to mark the "400th Anniversary of Samuel de Champlain in Huronia." The coin is 27 mm in diameter and weighs a fraction over a quarter ounce at 7.96 grams.

It passed essentially unnoticed here on CCF, but it's the type of history-based commemorative coin that I prefer so I purchased one.

In its description of the coin's design, the RCM web site states "Through the spaces between the astrolabe's latitude and longitude crosshairs, we are presented with engravings of scenes from Champlain's journeys in Huronia, including an image of a tall sailing ship and a scene in which Huron guides assist Champlain on portage."

I see the Huron guides lending a hand in the lower right quadrant of the coin's design but I do not see any "tall sailing ship" in any of the other three quadrants. I'm thinking either the description was written based on an alternate design that was not approved for production or the person writing the description mistook the three tall trees in the upper right quadrant for three masts of a sailing ship. Of course, a third possibility is that I'm "nautically-challenged" and just can't recognize the ship that is present!

I guess you can't believe everything you read on the internet!



Image courtesy of http://www.mint.ca.