Ahead of its time,
the Canadian-made supersonic fighter jet Avro CF-105 Arrow was designed
to fly higher and faster than any other aircraft during the 1950s.
Despite the projects cancellation in 1959, the Avro CF-105 Arrow put
Canada at the cutting edge of aviation and today, that legacy continues.
The Royal Canadian Mint's 2021 $50 The Avro Arrow Fine Silver Coin
celebrates Canada's innovation and ingenuity during the 1950s.
In
1953, A.V Roe Canada Ltd. was commissioned to develop a supersonic
interceptor that would aid North America's air defences during the Cold
War. The project began in Malton, Ontario, and as of October 4th, 1957,
the first Arrow RL-201 was unveiled. On March 25th,1958, the Arrow
RL-201 had its very first successful flight and soon after, four more
prototypes were created, plus one Arrow MK.2. As a technological
success, the twin-engine, delta-winged Arrow was the first aircraft to
adopt a fly-by-wire flight control system. Additionally, the newly
created Iroquois PS-13 turbojet engine would have allowed the Arrow to
fly at a speed surpassing Mach 2 - twice the speed of sound.
Unfortunately, as of February 20th, 1959, the program was cancelled and
all prototypes, plans and equipment were ordered to be destroyed.
However, you may be able to see a few surviving pieces of these
aircrafts within Canadian museums.
The reverse of the $50 The
Avro Arrow Fine Silver Coin was designed by Canadian artist Neil
Hamelin. Hamelin's illustration is an artistic tribute to Canada’s most
famous aircraft, the Avro CF-105 Arrow. The gold-plated supersonic
interceptor jet in flight appears to be almost flying off of the coin's
reverse. Within the Avro CF-105 Arrow's shadow is a maple leaf, which
pays homage to the innovators who designed and built the iconic Arrow,
which continues to be the pride of Canada. The obverse features a maple
leaf pattern in behind the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by
Susanna Blunt.
Specifications:
Mintage: 1,000
Composition: 99.99% pure silver with selective gold plating
Weight*: 157.6 g
Diameter: 65.25 mm
Face Value: $50
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Neil Hamelin
Special Features:
• Selective gold plating adds a dazzling gleam to this homage. It’s an
upscale feature that gives you the best of both worlds, silver and gold,
and creates a striking contrast.
• This coin has a limited mintage of 1,000 coins worldwide.
CoA #0424
Packaging:
Black clamshell with black beauty box.
A great addition to your World coin collection.