Investment Note—This special edition proof silver dollar has a total mintage limit of only 10,000. We recommend not delaying and believe that this silver dollar will sell out quickly, as all previous special editions have.

A Stunning Mythological Design
In adapting the Korea Medal for this coin, Royal Canadian Mint engravers faithfully preserved British medallist and sculptor Edward Carter Preston’s original design of Hercules, the idealized warrior from Greek and Roman mythology, slaying the evil, multi-headed Hydra monster as an allegory for the perilous struggles of war, and a tribute to those who freely go to battle of their own volition. In addition, the original engraving of KOREA in the exergue now includes CORÉE in order to reflect Canada’s official status as a bilingual nation.

The obverse also features the same effigy that appeared on the original medal, the 1953 portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Mary Gillick, which was also first used on Canadian coins in 1953.

Pleas see the article at the end of the presentation for more information about the Korean War (1950-1953) and Canada's involvement therein.

Investment Note
Here's a coin with a ton of investment potential, to say nothing of cachet! First of all, it's eminently affordable - and struck in the purest silver refined anywhere in the world - .9999 fine! The military theme is extremely popular, too, as is the denomination (it is a silver dollar, after all, and it's a special edition one at that!)! It's also one of the absolute lowest mintage pure silver dollars ever from Canada - only 10,000, far lower than the typically annual silver dollar, and the same as the infamous Queen Mother silver dollar of a decade ago, which now trades for hundreds of dollars! Don't let it sell out on you, get yours today!

Purity Note
The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. This pure silver dollar is 99.99% pure!

Obverse
The mythological Greek hero Hercules (Heracles), wearing the hide of the Nemean lion, slaying the many-headed Hydra monster, executed by British medalist Edward Carter Preston. The dedication KOREA / CORÉE appears in the exergue below the vignette.

Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the first effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian coinage, was executed by the artist Mary Gillick and was first used in 1953, the year the Korea Medal was issued. The legend ELIZABETH, the date of issue and the denomination also appear.

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

The Herculean trials of war
60th Anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement (1953-2013)

On July 27, 1953, officials signed the armistice agreement that brought combat in Korea to an end. The three-year conflict had begun just five years after the Second World War, and although much of the world was still struggling to recover from that global conflict, many nations came to the aid of the beleaguered Koreans.

Korea had been under Japanese colonial rule for more than three decades. When the Second World War came to an end and Japan surrendered, Allied military forces moved into the peninsula to ensure that Korea “shall become free and independent in due course.

Despite the stated intent to create a unified and independent Korea, between 1945 and 1950 the peninsula became deeply divided along the 38th parallel. However, as the Cold War between these two nations intensified around the world, so did tensions in Korea.

The war began when North Koreans, armed and supplied in part by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. The unprepared South Korean government turned to the United States which appealed to the United Nations (UN) for assistance. The UN responded by passing a Security Council resolution on June 25, 1950, the day of the invasion, and issued a second one two days later to request the military support of UN member nations.

Canadians responded by mobilizing almost 30,000 land, sea and air forces moved to defend sovereignty of the Republic of Korea. Although Canada represented a small portion of the total international force, its contribution was a larger proportion of its population than most of the other nations.

Canadas Navy was among the first in and the last out, while Canadas soldiers fought in Koreas mountains and valleys, supplied in part by a Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron. By wars end, Canadas casualties included 1,558 injured with another 516 men making the ultimate sacrifice. By joining with its allies to uphold the principle of collective security on which the UN was founded, Canada helped to prove the effectiveness of the fledgling organization and solidify its role on the world stage.