Commems Collection Canadian: 1970 Manitoba Centennial - Nickel Dollar Commemorative

The first of Canada's commemorative nickel dollars was issued in 1970; it was issued as a general circulation coin and in a higher-quality version for collectors. The coin marked the 100th anniversary of the Province of Manitoba joining the Canadian Confederation. Manitoba was the first addition to the original Confederation that was formed in 1867; it joined founding members New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec.

The coin's commemorative design (reverse) presents a prairie crocus, the provincial flower of Manitoba, with three blossoms - two open and one closed. Raymond Taylor, a Canadian artist who won the open design competition staged by the Mint in 1969, was the coin's designer. Taylor's design was a unanimous choice among the Competition's Selection Committee and earned him $3,500 for his efforts. Walter Ott, an engraver within the Mint, modeled the design from which the dies were ultimately created.

Selection of a prairie crocus design for the commemorative coin was to be expected. The flower had been a popular symbol of Manitoba since 1906 when it was named the official provincial flower as a result of a vote among the province's schoolchildren. The flower's local popularity and long-term official association with Manitoba makes me think it was likely a popular theme among the 900+ designs submitted in the open competition.

Mr. Taylor filled the "canvas" of the coin's reverse with his depiction of the prairie crocus and then framed it with the required commemorative inscriptions. The true-to-life rendering of the flower makes for a strong symbolic design. Though I've never seen a reference suggesting it, I have long wondered if Taylor's decision to depict three blossoms was a nod to the three British North American colonies (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada) that came together to create the four provinces of the original Confederation.

Side Note: The coin's commemorative design was replicated in 2020 on a coin for the Province's 150th anniversary. The 2020 coin is a two-ounce, 0.9999 fine silver coin (vs. a pure nickel coin, 0.999 fine) with a denomination of $30. The new coin is 50 millimeters in diameter and has a weight of 62.69 grams vs. 32.13 mm and 15.62 grams, respectively, for the 1970 coin.

1970 Mintage Figures
Circulation Coin: 3,493,189
Collector Coin: 349,120 [Specimen finish]
Collector Coin: 349,120 [*Included in Proof-Like/Uncirculated Sets)*]

* It seems strange to me that the same number of coins was issued in Sets as was issued in clam shell cases. I'm still researching this.

The coin was packaged within a black plastic frame that was inserted into a black clam shell case (either square or rectangular); some frames are plain, others have descriptive printing (see images).

1970 Manitoba Centennial Nickel Dollar - Commemorative Reverse


1970 Manitoba Centennial Nickel Dollar - Plain Insert Frame


1970 Manitoba Centennial Nickel Dollar - Printed Insert Frame



I previously posted a discussion of the Manitoba Centennial nickel dollar and its connection to Expo '70 in Japan. You can check it out here:

- 1970 Manitoba Commemorative Dollar And Expo '70 In Osaka


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