I enjoy collecting commemorative coins that celebrate joint history between the US and another country. The Royal Canadian Mint's 2014-15 "Exploring Canada" series gave me multiple collecting opportunities. I posted previously about the series' "West Coast Exploration" coin and its honoring of Captain George Vancouver. This time out, I'm looking at a coin that celebrates the accomplishments of Canada's early mapmakers, with special acknowledgement given to David Thompson.
Thompson was British; he was born in Westminster, England and was educated in London. Beginning in 1784, he served as an apprentice for several years for the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada, and then worked for the company for a time before going to work for the North West Company (a competitor). In his career, he was employed as a clerk, secretary, bookkeeper, fur trader and surveyor; he developed a reputation as an astute explorer, excellent geographer and talented cartographer (mapmaker).
A major figure in exploring and mapping Canada's interior (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Thompson is connected to the United States via his surveying work concerning the US-Canada border, mapping the region of present-day North Dakota (later used by Lewis and Clark), his setting up of trading posts in the present-day states of Idaho and Montana and his exploration of the Columbia River, including traveling through the present-day states of Oregon and Washington.
The coin's commemorative reverse was created by freelance artist John Mantha. It depicts David Thompson using a sextant to determine the latitude of his location. In the background is seen a member of his survey party writing down the measurements Thompson determines and calls out. Also seen is the canoe used by the party as it made its way down a river. The obverse features the Susanna Blunt portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Canadian Mint (R C M) launched its "Exploring Canada" series in 2014. The series included ten 0.9999 fine silver $15 coins, 36.07 mm in diameter with a weight of 23.17 grams - the same planchet specifications as those of the Mint's silver dollar (SD) commemorative series. The collection was intended as a showcase for Canadian exploration and history, and included six coin releases in 2014 and four in 2015. The coins were available individually and via subscription; the subscription included a custom-printed display box with spots for all ten coins.
The matte proof coin was issued at $54.95 CAD; it had a maximum mintage of 15,000. Per the Mint's Annual Reports for 2014 and 2015, the coin sold 4,366 and 1,377 units, respectively, for a total of 5,743 coins.
2014 Exploring Canada - Pioneering Mapmakers Silver $15
For my posts on previous coins of the series, check out:
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2014 Exploring Canada - The Voyageurs -
2014 Exploring Canada - West Coast ExplorationFor other of my posts about Canadian commemorative coins and medals (plus those of the US and other countries!), see:
Commems Collection.
Posted 05/22/2024 3:54 pm
