2009 Canada $20 Fine Silver Coin
475th Ann. of Jacques Cartier's Arrival
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These were the
voyages reserved for the privileged few; to sail across unknown seas to
discover new, uncharted lands. Commissioned by kings, led by the learned
and fueled by the brawn and courage of seafaring men, wooden vessels
strikingly small and primitive compared to transportation modes of
today, challenged the open seas in search of fortune and fame.
In
1534, Francois I commissioned Jacques Cartier to go to the New World to
find gold and a passage to Asia; an expedition that was destined to
write a milestone chapter in Canadian history.
Cartier was not
the first. Others had come before, including Breton and Basque fishermen
who were already frequenting the Gulf of St. Lawrence where Cartier was
headed. But unlike his predecessors, Cartier engaged First Nations
people extensively in trade, his journals providing the first detailed
accounts of early encounters between these two vastly different worlds.
Cartier's
trusted ships brought his expedition along the Labrador coast in the
Strait of Belle Isle, down the western shore of Newfoundland to
Miramichi and Chaleur Bays, and back to the Gaspe coast.
During
his travels, Cartier interacted with the Micmac, Stadacona and Iroquois
people. They were captivated by the knives, beads, combs and other iron
goods the explorer traded, and the sheer size and seeming luxury of his
floating fortresses must have left a powerful impression on the people
Cartier welcomed aboard. Indeed, it was Cartier's voyage of 1534 that
brought the first Iroquoian men across the Atlantic Ocean to experience
the wonders of France first hand.
Specifications:
Face Value: 20 dollars
Mintage: 1,534
Composition: 99.99% pure Silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Edge: Serrated
Finish: Proof
Certificate: Serialized
Special Features:
Its
beautifully-crafted reverse design features a 16th-century Breton ship
inspired by the Grande Hermine, Jacques Cartier's famous admiral ship
that has come to symbolize his historic voyages.
Packaging:
Coin is encapsulated and presented in a maroon clamshell case lined with flock and protected by a black sleeve. CoA included |
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- THIS ITEM IS GST / HST EXEMPTWE DO NOT SHIP TO CHINA OR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATIONplease see shipping section for other exclusions
we will combine shipping
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Citadel Coins
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor
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