For decades, they’ve been a curious footnote in our history—a collection of sketches that only hint at coins that might have been. Now, thanks to this set, three unused coin concepts by Emanuel Hahn are finally making their first-time leap from artwork to coin!Hahn (1881-1957) was the artistic force behind two silver dollars, as well as the Bluenose and caribou images that still grace our circulation coins today. But Hahn’s legacy runs deeper than even history remembers: when Canada sought to modernize its coinage in 1936, the sculptorsubmitted several proposed designs that have been preserved as part of the National Currency Collection. Some have been forgotten; others (such as the designs featured here) have captivated those who regard them as art treasures buried inour history. Struck in a beautiful reverse proof finish, this set of Hahn’s “coins that never were” is our way of faithfully carrying out the sculptor’s vision, by interpreting his pencil sketches as though they had been entrusted to us today.

A beautiful gift for someone who enjoys coin design history! Order today!

• DIGGING INTO OUR PAST! A unique exploration of Canadian coin lore and a peek at the art that lies buried in the history of the Royal Canadian Mint!
• A FIRST! Preserved aspart of the National Currency Collection, these three designs by Emanuel Hahn have never appeared on a coin—until now!
• EFFIGY OF KING GEORGE VI! Since these designs were proposed forcirculation coins issued in 1937, each obverse includes the effigy of King George VI as an added touch of historical accuracy.
• A FINE BALANCE BETWEEN THE PAST AND PRESENT! Our team of engravers have carefullyscrutinized the artist’s sketches in order to faithfully interpret Hahn’s vision, as though the designs were entrusted to us today, with minimal adjustments for modern engraving techniques and finishes.
• GORGEOUS REVERSE PROOF FINISH! Crafted in 99.99% pure silver, each of your coins are struck in a gorgeous reverse proof finish. The matte field is in striking contrastto the brilliance of the engraved elements, which easily shine under natural light.
• INCLUDES SERIALIZED CERTIFICATE! The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.
• LOW MINTAGE! Your coin set has a limited mintage worldwide of 5,500!
• THREE 1 OZ. 99.99% PURE SILVER COINS! Your 3-coin set has no GST/HST.

Each of your coins features one of several designs proposed by Emanuel Hahn (1881-1957) for new Canadian circulation coins issued in 1937. To remain true to the artist’s vision, the Royal Canadian Mint’s engravers pored over every fine detailcontained in one of the few resources still available today: Hahn’s sketches, which are a part of the National Currency Collection.

The first 25-cent coin design (NCC-1963.59.15.35 - Bank of Canada Archives) features a polar bear standing on an ice floe, its head turned toward the right side of the coin, while the open sea is visible behind the mound. A stylistic representation of the Aurora Borealis hangs over the low horizon and stretches across the northernsky, only yielding to the Big Dipper asterism that is a common element on all three coins. The word “CANADA” is engraved at the top while the face value “25 CENTS” andthe updated year “2018” are engraved over the ice.

The diamond-like stars are more prominent in the second 25-cent coin design (NCC-1963.59.15.34 - Bank of Canada Archives), which centres on a goose in flight. The side-profile view allows for the inclusion of several details, including the flight feathers along the outstretched wings. Here again, the Big Dipper adds a pointof interest to the field, where the face value “25 CENTS”, the year “2018” and the word “CANADA” are also engraved in the starry sky.

The five-cent coin’s reverse (NCC-1963.59.15.25 - Bank of Canada Archives) has a remarkable tie to the present: it is Hahn’s original caribou design, the precursor to the one now synonymous with Canada’s 25-cent circulation coin. Viewed in side profile, the ungulate moves beneath the night sky, where the Big Dipper is clearly visible. The caribou’s antlers reach into the legend, where the word “CANADA” is engraved alongside the year “2018”; beneath the flatlandscape, an oversized “5” winds its way through the word “CENTS”. 

The obverse of each of your coins features the effigy of King George VI by T. H. Paget.

• Emanuel Hahn’s caribou design can be traced back to 1934, when Hahn was invited to present a concept for Canada’s first silver dollar. The caribou was well received but another idea was proposed instead; this lead to Hahn’s famousVoyageur design, which graced Canada’s silver dollar and almost adorned the reverse of our circulation dollar coin!
• In January 1936, the death of King George V meant that all of Canada’s coins needed new obverse designs; this was the perfect opportunity to update the reverse of all but the dollar coin, too. A committee was formed and 12 Canadian artists (including Hahn) were invited to submit sketches for new circulation coins. The artists were given broad artistic freedom, although suggested themes included Canadian flora and fauna, or scenes highlighting agriculture and industry.
• Initial submissions were all rejected, including the polar bear and goose featured in this set. It seems these two images were dismissed because they did notdispel the view of Canada as a northern wilderness—a surprising decision today since the polar bear is a fixture on our two-dollar coin, and a similar-looking goose was featured on the 1967 Colville-designeddollar coin!
• When Hahn’s caribou design was selected for the 25-cent coin instead of the five-cent piece, it was changed to a close-up view of the ungulate’s head and antlers. The Big Dipper was also removed from the background, but not entirely: if you look closely at a 25-cent coin today, you’ll notice three small stars were integrated into the legend!
• Hahn’s older brother, Gustav Hahn (1866-1962), helped pioneer the Art Nouveau style in Canada. He, too, is associated with Canadian coin lore: his idea for Canada’s one-cent coin was brought to lifein our 2017 Forgotten Designs of 1927 set.

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a black beauty box.

Order today!