Commems Collection Canadian: 2010 Poppy Dollar

In 2010, the Royal Canadian Mint issued another "remembrance" silver dollar featuring a poppy flower - it was issued following the passing of the last Canadian World War I veteran. Per the Mint's web page for the coin, the silver dollar was issued to pay tribute to veterans, as well as current members, of Canada's military and peacekeeping forces.

The last known Canadian WWI veteran was John Henry Foster Babcock. He was born on July 23, 1900 and died on February 18, 2010 at the age of 109. Babcock was Canada's lone survivor of WWI military service from May 10, 2007 until his death. On a somewhat morbid note, the speed at which the Mint brought the coin to market has always made me think that it had already put production details in place for the SD in anticipation of receiving word of Babcock's death. Of course, production of the coin could have been already been in motion at the time of Babcock's death and would have been issued regardless - maybe the R C M simply included him in its promotion of its otherwise "general purpose" coin.

John Henry Foster Babcock, circa 1920


The coin was a Special Edition proof dollar silver that featured red enamel on the flower of a single large poppy in the foreground with a field of poppies in the background. The restrained use of the enameling is simple, effective and attractive - and even as someone who prefers non-enhanced coins, I find the design very compelling. Christine Paquet was the designer of the coin's commemorative reverse.

Mintage of the coin was capped at 5,000; it was a sell-out with 4,975 units sold (the balance of 25 unsold units is accounted for by damaged/unsalable specimens). The initial selling price for the coin was $139.95 (CAD).




To learn more about two of Canada's other Poppy silver dollars, check out:

- 2004 Poppy Dollar
- 2008 Ultra-High-Relief Poppy Dollar

For other of my posts about Canadian commemorative coins and medals, check out: Read More: Commems Collection.