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 Replies: 8 / Views: 2,403 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2845 Posts |
Below is a snippet from a publication and what to do in Winnipeg, one of the options of course, Tour the Mint. Has anyone heard this story about our one dollar coin before? If so, then how did it happen to end up with a loon on the reverse. Seems to me that a new master die of a loon didn't just appear from nowhere. I'm somewhat sceptical, the "tale" sounds a tad loonie to me but perhaps history is being created..... Currency buffs can geek out on the free tours at the Royal Canadian Mint (520 Lagimodière Blvd.), where guides will regale you with tales of how the Loonie came to be in 1987 because of an unsolved disappearance of a master die of what was supposed to be a voyageur-themed dollar coin. See how coins are made, packed and shipped and discover what happens when they go out of circulation. The flags out front represent most of the countries we've made coins for. There's a pricey boutique.http://www.ourwindsor.ca/community-...eg-manitoba/ |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
If you take the tour, the guide will confirm the lost dies of the voyageur design and the quick loon design for replacement with an added bonus, one set is still missing with an outstanding large reward for it's return.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
997 Posts |
i have read the same story in several places and it appears genuine. The design was changed to avoid counterfeits since the dies were lost or stolen in transit.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
The guide will not volunteer the info, but if you ask they were upfront on this issue anyway.
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New Member
Canada
32 Posts |
True story. Robert Ralph Carmichael's design was a last minute decision when the dies disappeared in transit. I drive past the Loon monument on my way to my cottage regularly. Carmichael's brother was my High school principal back when the loon was released and I was able to meet the designer and hear the story straight from him  . http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...cle31208982/An interesting article on the designer that includes a detailed account of how the dies were lost... Edited by CoinCollectic
01/06/2017 2:09 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
937 Posts |
Interesting story -- I haven't heard it before.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
2845 Posts |
Thanks for the link CoinCollectic, that's a fascinating story. Makes sense, Mr Carmichael's design had been submitted 10 years prior. As for the Voyageur, I think it's an excellent commemorative theme that would've otherwise not been practical, perhaps things happened all for the good.
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Moderator
 Australia
16827 Posts |
The stolen dies story was quite well-known when the loonie was first introduced. The story even made it into the coin magazine here in Australia.
I have used the story as the answer to a numismatic quiz question on several occasions.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
514 Posts |
I had not heard the story prior to my last tour of the mint - I figured it was bunk, because the tour guide had some of her facts straight-up, wrong.
@ Coincollectic - thanks for the link, and story's corroboration!
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Replies: 8 / Views: 2,403 |
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Posted 01/06/2017 09:55 am
