This 50-cent coin commemorates the 100th anniversary of the tragedy of the RMS Empress of Ireland with a dark and haunting depiction; it is one in a series of coins that pays tribute to notable vessels that have found their final berth beneath capricious Canadian waters. The RMS Empress of Ireland was an ocean liner that was ship-wrecked in the St. Lawrence River following a collision (fuelled by heavy fog) with the Norwegian collier ship, the SS Storstad. The Norwegian ship crashed into the side of the Empress in the early morning hours of May 29th, 1914; with severe damage to her starboard side, it took less than 15 minutes for the Empress to sink into the freezing depths of the St. Lawrence. Out of the 1,477 people on board, 1,012 lost their lives. The sinking of the Empress is considered to be the worst maritime disaster in Canada's history, yet due to the sinking of the RMS Titanic two years earlier, and the start of the First World War only a few months later, the tragic tale of the Empress is a quiet one. The wreckage of the site is part of the Historic Sites of Canada register, resting in the depths of the river just off the shore of Rimouski, Quebec. This colour portrait captures both the majestic presence of the ship, and the moody darkness of that fateful night. The passage of time (1914-2014) and the word "CANADA", alongside a small bell (which is representative of one of the artifacts recovered from the wreck) circle the rim of the silver-plated coin. Featuring a matte-proof finish, this commemorative coin is an elegant way to own a piece of Canadian maritime history.
Diameter: 42mm
Weight: 32.82g
Finish: Matte Proof
Material: Silver-plated Copper
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II
Reverse: Coloured image of final moments of ship sailing along the St. Lawrence River; Engraved fog bell above the image field is the most well-known recovered artifact
Series: Lost Ships in Canadian Waters
Quantity Produced: 15,000
Theme: Transportation
Artist: Yves Bérubé
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