Royal Canadian Mint commemorates Black History today and every day with coin featuring the Underground Railroad
PR94326
OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
The Underground Railroad, the famous network of safe houses and secret routes
that helped enslaved people of African descent escape to freedom in Canada, is
the subject of the Royal Canadian Mint's latest issue in its ongoing
Commemorating Black History coin series. Launched in conjunction with the
start of Black History Month, this silver collector coin (
) designed by Toronto artist Kwame Delfish, portrays in a unique perspective
the human side of the perilous northward migration, which reached its peak in
the 1850s and 1860s. This moving new collectible is available as of February
1, 2022.
Photo -
"The employees of the Royal Canadian Mint are proud to once again add to the
national celebration of Black History Month with a beautiful silver coin that
brings the important story of the Underground Railroad to life," said Marie
Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "By remembering those who
undertook the long and risky journey to escape slavery in the 19th century, as
well as their brave and tireless guides, we are reminding ourselves that
freedom is one of our most enduring values."
The reverse design of this 99.99% pure silver coin is an innovative tribute to
those who travelled the Underground Railroad. The men, women and children
following the Big Dipper constellation to guide their way north to freedom, are
illustrated along the coin's edge to create the sense of circular motion
representing their long, continuous journey. The obverse features the effigy
of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, set against a repeating
maple leaf pattern.
"This coin is meant to honour and pay homage to the ancestral slaves that
escaped to the North in search of freedom," said artist Kwame Delfish. "Many
did not get to complete the journey and faced the same (if not more) hardships
than what they left behind. The ones that made it built their legacies and
shaped the mosaic that Canada is today. My hope is that their strength and
courage is illustrated on this coin, and that I have sung their gospel."
Limited to a mintage of 5,500, the 2022 $20 Fine Silver Coin Commemorating
Black History - The Underground Railroad (
) retails for $99.95. This new collectible may be ordered as of today by
contacting the Mint at 1-800-267–1871 in Canada, 1-800-268–6468 in the US, or
at www.mint.ca.
Images of this coin are available here (
).
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting
and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest
and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized,
high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale.
For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit
www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on Twitter (
), Facebook (
) and Instagram (
).
Contact: Alex Reeves
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
Telephone: +1-613-884-6370
reeves@mint.ca
SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mint (RCM)
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