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- 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston, The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013)
1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston, The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013)
Order yours today as previous coins in this Group of Seven series sold quickly!
Francis Hans Johnston, (later known as Frank or Franz), was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1888. Johnston was a prolific painter. At an exhibition he held in Winnipeg in February 1922 (after taking a position as the principal of the Winnipeg School of Art), he displayed over 300 paintings—the largest solo exhibition Winnipeg had ever seen at that time.
Your coin is the 5th coin in the Group of Seven series. Don’t delay, order yours today!
Special features:
• Every brush stroke was recreated on your coin in a beautiful proof finish (frosted raised elements on mirror background).
• 5th coin in the series. Other coins include : Lawren S. Harris, Toronto Street Winter Morning, Varley, Stormy Weather; Carmichael, Houses, Cobalt; and Lismer, Nova Scotia Fishing Village.
• GST/HST exempt.
• Crafted in 1 ounce of fine silver (99.99% pure).
• Limited to 7,000 coins worldwide. Previous coins in series sold quickly so don’t delay, order today!
Design:
Your coin features an adaptation of Franz Johnston’s painting, The Guardian of the Gorge. In this detail of the painting, we see massive outcroppings of granite acting as guard and gateway to a vast river canyon. The figurative becomes literal as one notices the figure of a crouching man emerge from the rock and at the crest of the cliff (not seen here), the face of the elderly guardian watches over the vast chasm. The outer frame on the reverse side features the words “CANADA” and “FRANZ JOHNSTON” along with the date “2013” and the face value of “20 DOLLARS.”
Packaging:
Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint branded maroon clamshell case lined with flock and protected by a black sleeve.
Order yours today!
Photo © National Gallery of Canada
Specifications
- No.118516
- Mintage 7,000
- Compositionfine silver (99.99% pure)
- Finishproof
- Weight (g) 31.39
- Diameter (mm) 38
- Edgeserrated
- Certificateserialized
- Face value20 dollars
- ArtistRCM engravers reproduced the painting "The Guardian of the Gorge" by Franz Johnston (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)
Reviews
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 34 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
(10)
4 Stars
(6)
3 Stars
(3)
2 Stars
(4)
1 Stars
(11)
52%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
(10)
4 Stars
(6)
3 Stars
(3)
2 Stars
(4)
1 Stars
(11)
Pros
- Unique (14)
- Attractive (13)
- Good value (10)
- Great quality (10)
- One of A kind (10)
Cons
- Poor personalization (5)
- Poor quality (5)
- Difficult to personalize (3)
- Pricey / poor value (3)
Best Uses
- Gift (8)
- Special occasion (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Quality driven (19)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (34)
Reviewed by 34 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
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Complete group of seven set
By Sunshine3
from Toronto Canada.
About Me Quality Driven
Pros
- One Of A Kind
Cons
- Expensive
Best Uses
- Special Occasion
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
One of a kind group of seven set
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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A GREAT COIN IN THE O CANADA series.
By Dave the Golfer
from Devon AB Canada
Pros
- Great Quality
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Part Of A Small Colection
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
This is just part of another great set.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Quite a Handful!
By Bob the Wondering Wanderer
from Rochester, NY
Pros
- Unique
Cons
Best Uses
- Anybody's Guess
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
It makes me wonder about the missing parts of the picture, and why the coin designer represented only the guardian's hand. Is this hand offering something special to the viewer -- to the collector, to the hiker of the gorge, to our collective unconscious? I watch and wonder, while the current tickles my toes.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
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(2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Disappointing at best
By Elliott
from Montreal
About Me Quality Driven
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
I bought this coin to continue with my Group of Seven collection but was very disappointed when it arrived. I am sure there were better Franz Johnston paintings to choose from then this "study" of perhaps the most boring section of an otherwise unremarkable painting. The other coins thus far in this series have been remarkable. I was really let down by this particular coin and would not recommend it to anyone who is not completing their set as it is not a very good stand alone coin.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
(2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
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(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
poor design
By knrman
from ontario
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
i bought this coin when it came out in order to keep the group of seven set complete. however, i strongly believe that this is by far the weakest design so far. i understand that the image on the coin is not intended to represent the entire paining, and i agree that parts of the design are very good (the bottom half in particular). however each coin must be judged on its own merits for artistic quality and not on the merits of the depicted subject; the painting might be a great work, but it does not follow that the coin it inspires is therefore great as well. the RCM's design must be able to stand on its own. in this instance, it does not. if you are unfamiliar with the work (as i was when i first saw the design) it comes across as almost laughable. if i were going to design a coin based on this painting by zooming in on a specific section, i would have likely gone for the head in the cliffside. at least then, perhaps, the image may have made a little sense on its own.
incidentally, the other coins on the series have not suffered in this way, and are all great.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)
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(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
A Very Interesting Coin
By TC
from Canada
About Me Quality Driven
Pros
- One Of A Kind
- Unique
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
I appreciate the viewpoint of those who expected a fuller rendition of the Guardian. However, I too came around after suddenly being mesmorized by the water.
I believe the objective was to create a balance in the coin's presentation. Trying to cram the whole Guardian into the picture would have created an intensely busy, miniscule image.
Instead, the image places you, an explorer, on the shoreline of the river, gazing at the smoothly flowing water (so striking under the light), when suddenly something--a line, a pattern--catches your eye on the far side. Without moving your gaze, slowly the image begins to sharpen. With a start you realize there's something more to be seen... somewhere above...
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
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(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Most awesome in the G7 series so far!!!
By Janet
from Montreal
About Me Quality Driven
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Good Value
- Great Quality
- One Of A Kind
- Unique
Cons
Best Uses
- Gift For Adult
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
I must admit that I was disappointed on first receiving this coin, but on closer inspection I have come to appreciate it as a true work of art.
If you accept the fact that it is a detail of the larger work, you can appreciate the fine workmanship rendered in this coin. There is movement in the water -- it is not a static image. If you tilt the coin back and forth in the sunlight, the water appears to be flowing from left to right. It is mesmerizing and intriguing. Also there is a pronounced 3D quality in the engraving of the entire coin.
I am very happy to have this series. Keep up the great work RCM!!!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
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Disappointing execution
By CoinsCoins
from Toronto
About Me Avid collector
Pros
Cons
- Disappointing Execution
Best Uses
- Complete The Series
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
A very disappointing execution. The focal point of this art work is the imaginary guardian, yet the design chose to crop out most of it, leaving own some indistiguishable features. Very disappointing!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
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"Great product to buy for collection"
By mirek
from Vancouver,BC
About Me Quality Driven
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Unique
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
Keep for my collection and in the future to use as a gift for my grandson.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Poor Representation of Original Piece
By CP
from Edmonton AB
About Me Bargain Hunter, Quality Driven
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Great Quality
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about 1 oz Fine Silver Coin - Franz Johnston The Guardian of the Gorge - Mintage: 7000 (2013):
I have to agree with other reviewers here on the unfortunate scale chosen for this coin. The coin itself is well struck, but this replication of the original artwork only includes a fraction of the composition and you completely lose the relation to the original piece. As part of a series showcasing the Group of Seven, this coin does not deliver. I have been happy with the rest of the series so far. Disappointed that I missed the subscription, so I have no way of getting the collectors case for this series. There should have been extras available or this should be included at the end of the series, not with the first coin so that people can cancel the subscription and auction off the "bonus" case.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
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