The gold-plated insignia of the French infantry is a symbol of hard-fought victories in such places as Verdun, the site of the longest and costliest battle; along the Marne, where "les Poilus" helpedturn the tide of war in 1918; and a month later at Amiens, where French, British, Canadian, Australian and American forces took part in a coordinated offensive that finally ended the mud-soaked nightmare of trench warfare. But above the trenches that left their mark on France and Belgium, the First World War also accelerated the developmentof a key component of modern warfare: aircraft. Barely a decade after the first powered flight, planes that were still regarded as a novelty quickly evolved from reconnaissance flyers to machine gun-equippedfighters—and France was at the forefront of aviation progress, with its escadrilles and fighter pilots fighting for control of the skies until the very end.

Your coin is a tribute to France's triumphs and sacrifices during the First World War. Order today.

• THIRD IN FIRST WORLD WAR ALLIES 4-COIN SERIES: On the 100th anniversary of theArmistice of 11 November 1918, this four-coin series reflects on the wartime contributions of select Allied forces who were united in a common cause and bound by heroism and duty.
• FOUR ALLIES, ONE LAST PUSH: While Canadian and French forces fought in the trenches, Canadian airmen also served in the skies, where France's escadrilles and fighter pilots wereat the forefront of aircraft development.
• THE IMAGE OF HOPE: Your highly detailed coin presents the view from the front lines, in a time when the novelty and risks of flight still inspired awe. Multiple finishes add a sense of depthto the scene, in which French troops—and you—look up to see French aircraft flying overhead.
• SELECTIVE GOLD PLATING: Like all coins in this limited series,selective gold plating highlights the infantry insignia of the French Army, an emblem that speaks of sacrifice and victory in battle, such as the Battle ofVerdun in 1916 and at Amiens in 1918.
• FOR KING AND COUNTRY: Selective gold plating also highlights theeffigy of King George V on the obverse, which largely resembles that of all Canadian coins issued during the First World War.
• COLLECT ALL 4 COINS FOR THE COMPLETE STORY: It's a touching memorial to all the combatants—one that goes beyond borders to put a face on the Great War.
• INCLUDES SERIALIZED CERTIFICATE! The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins. Most of these are serialized certifications, meaning that each certificate is given a unique number, starting at 1.
• LIMITED MINTAGE! Your coin has a limited worldwide mintage.
• 1 OZ. PURE SILVER! Your coin is crafted from one ounce 99.99% pure silver.

Designed by Canadian artist Pandora Young, your coin transports you to the Western Front and in the trenches thatdefined the First World War. On the faces of the French soldiers ("les Poilus"), the expression is one of hope and wonder as they lift their gazeup to the sky, where their fellow countrymen have taken flight to battle for air superiority. While thesetting is a stirring reminder of the French Army's victories and sacrifices in battle, the aircraft of the Aéronautique Militaire also salutes the legacy of French aviators and engineers, who were at the forefront of progress as aviation evolved from novelty to military necessity. Selective gold plating highlightsthe infantry insignia of the French Army, represented by the flaming bomb bearing the letters "RF" (République Française). The selectively gold-plated obverse features the effigy of King George V by Sir E. B. MacKennal.

• A leader in aeronautics, France was the first to establish its own air force in 1910; by the war's end, Aéronautique Militaire was the world's largest air force, with thousands of aircraft and more than 6,000 fighter pilots.
• While aircraft were largely used for reconnaissance in the early days of the war, attempts to prevent enemy observation soon ushered in the era of aerial combat. In April 1915, French aviator Roland Garros had his plane equipped with deflector plates, which allowed a machine gun to be fired through the propeller's arc. Not long after, the developmentof synchronization gear led to a period of German air superiority, dubbed the "Fokker Scourge."
• On the ground, the French Army was the third largestof the Triple Entente, with 8,500,000 serving throughout the war; sadly, France suffered more than 5.7 million casualties, with 1.4 million lives lost in the line of duty.

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

Order today!