FIRST IN A NEW SERIES! This low mintage, pure silver proof commemorates 100th anniversary of the loss of the ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland, Canada's worst peacetime maritime disaster, which claimed over 1,000 lives!
This new series from the Royal Canadian Mint remembers the Lost Ships of Canada, starting with the greatest maritime tragedy in Canada's long history, the sinking of the ocean liner R.M.S. Empress of Ireland. Empress of Ireland was a large ocean liner that sank in the Saint Lawrence River following a collision with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in the early hours of May 29, 1914. Of the 1,477 persons on board the ship, 1,012 (840 passengers, 172 crew) died. The number of those who were killed is the largest of any Canadian maritime accident in peacetime. The RMS Empress of Ireland features the RCM's proprietary colorization technology! Struck in full color on a one troy ounce pure silver planchet (the better to showcase this huge and dramatic ship!), and with an extremely limited mintage of only 7,000, we recommend you add this nautical gem your collection today!
Two stunning coins offer different, original works of art to commemorate the wreck of Empress of Ireland:
1) Crown-Size 42 mm Silver-Plated Copper Half Dollar Color Proof
2) $20 One Troy Oz Pure Silver Proof with Color & Edge Lettering
Did The Cat Guess The Future?
Canadian artist John Horton has created an original work of art, a dramatic representation of the ocean liner Empress of Ireland in the final moments before her fatal collision. Full color is dynamically recreates the imminent collision of R.M.S Empress of Ireland and the Norwegian collier SS Storstad during the early morning hours of May 29, 1914. Rolling in from the coast (engraved in the background), the thick fog comes between the two ships in the center. The shadowy image of the Storstad emerges from the right side of the image, its sharp bow in line to make contact with the Empresss starboard side. The passenger ships stern and funnels are seen going into the fog in this chilling glimpse of the liner before tragedy would send her to her final resting place on the bottom of the St. Lawrence River.
Empress of Ireland was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering at Govan on the Clyde in Scotland and was launched in 1906. The ocean liner, along with her sister ship Empress of Britain, was commissioned by Canadian Pacific Steamships (CP) for the North Atlantic route between Quebec City and Liverpool in England. The ship had just begun her 96th sailing when she sank.
There is an eerie legend told of the final voyage of Empress of Ireland. The ship's cat on Empress of Ireland was named Emmy. She was a orange tabby (a breed known for their loyalty) who had never once missed a voyage. But shortly before the liner's final voyage, the cat repeatedly tried to leave the ship before its departure from Québec City on May 28, 1914. The crew could not coax Emmy aboard, so Empress departed without its mascot, which was an ill omen. Ship's cats were believed to bring luck to a ship and keep it from sinking. It was reported that Emmy watched the ship sail away from Quebec City sitting on the roof of the boat shed at Pier 27, which would later become a place of assembly for the dead bodies pulled from the river after Empress went down.
Technology Note - Color
The Royal Canadian Mint leads the world with its proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The intricate detail, smooth gradients, and extreme precision of the technology create a stunning look on each coin.
Technology Note - Purity
The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. The RCM is also the only mint in the world to issue commemorative coins in a .9999 fineness. This one troy ounce silver coin is 99.99% pure!
Obverse
Canadian artist John Horton has created an original work of art, a dramatic representation of the ocean liner Empress of Ireland in the final moments before its fatal collision. The denomination and date are indicated.
Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian Coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God") also appears.
Edge Lettering
Unique to this coin, the edge lettering legend R.M.S. EMPRESS OF IRELAND gives the name of this lost ship.
Packaging
The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a full color outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.
Specifications
In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!
SOLD OUT at the Royal Canadian Mint!
This new series from the Royal Canadian Mint remembers the Lost Ships of Canada, starting with the greatest maritime tragedy in Canada's long history, the sinking of the ocean liner R.M.S. Empress of Ireland. Empress of Ireland was a large ocean liner that sank in the Saint Lawrence River following a collision with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad in the early hours of May 29, 1914. Of the 1,477 persons on board the ship, 1,012 (840 passengers, 172 crew) died. The number of those who were killed is the largest of any Canadian maritime accident in peacetime. The RMS Empress of Ireland features the RCM's proprietary colorization technology! Struck in full color on a one troy ounce pure silver planchet (the better to showcase this huge and dramatic ship!), and with an extremely limited mintage of only 7,000, we recommend you add this nautical gem your collection today! Two stunning coins offer different, original works of art to commemorate the wreck of Empress of Ireland:1) Crown-Size 42 mm Silver-Plated Copper Half Dollar Color Proof
2) $20 One Troy Oz Pure Silver Proof with Color & Edge Lettering
Did The Cat Guess The Future?
Canadian artist John Horton has created an original work of art, a dramatic representation of the ocean liner Empress of Ireland in the final moments before her fatal collision. Full color is dynamically recreates the imminent collision of R.M.S Empress of Ireland and the Norwegian collier SS Storstad during the early morning hours of May 29, 1914. Rolling in from the coast (engraved in the background), the thick fog comes between the two ships in the center. The shadowy image of the Storstad emerges from the right side of the image, its sharp bow in line to make contact with the Empresss starboard side. The passenger ships stern and funnels are seen going into the fog in this chilling glimpse of the liner before tragedy would send her to her final resting place on the bottom of the St. Lawrence River.
Empress of Ireland was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering at Govan on the Clyde in Scotland and was launched in 1906. The ocean liner, along with her sister ship Empress of Britain, was commissioned by Canadian Pacific Steamships (CP) for the North Atlantic route between Quebec City and Liverpool in England. The ship had just begun her 96th sailing when she sank.
There is an eerie legend told of the final voyage of Empress of Ireland. The ship's cat on Empress of Ireland was named Emmy. She was a orange tabby (a breed known for their loyalty) who had never once missed a voyage. But shortly before the liner's final voyage, the cat repeatedly tried to leave the ship before its departure from Québec City on May 28, 1914. The crew could not coax Emmy aboard, so Empress departed without its mascot, which was an ill omen. Ship's cats were believed to bring luck to a ship and keep it from sinking. It was reported that Emmy watched the ship sail away from Quebec City sitting on the roof of the boat shed at Pier 27, which would later become a place of assembly for the dead bodies pulled from the river after Empress went down.Technology Note - Color
The Royal Canadian Mint leads the world with its proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The intricate detail, smooth gradients, and extreme precision of the technology create a stunning look on each coin.
Technology Note - Purity
The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. The RCM is also the only mint in the world to issue commemorative coins in a .9999 fineness. This one troy ounce silver coin is 99.99% pure!
ObverseCanadian artist John Horton has created an original work of art, a dramatic representation of the ocean liner Empress of Ireland in the final moments before its fatal collision. The denomination and date are indicated.
Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian Coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God") also appears.
Edge Lettering
Unique to this coin, the edge lettering legend R.M.S. EMPRESS OF IRELAND gives the name of this lost ship.
Packaging
The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a full color outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.
Specifications
| Country | Canada |
| Year of Issue | 2014 |
| Face Value | 20 Dollars |
| Weight | 31.39 g |
| Diameter | 38.00 mm |
| Mintage Limit | 7,000 |
| Finish | Proof |
| Composition | .9999 Fine (Pure) Silver |
| Edge | Plain with Edge Lettering |
| Artist | John Horton |
| Certificate | Individually Numbered |