Travel back to the era of the tall ships, which were the backbone of Canada’s marine industry through much of the 19 th century. This low mintage half ounce $200 fine gold coin captures the majesty of two brigantine tall ships. Backed by clouds that sit low on the horizon, two brigantines are shown on the open sea, where the wind fills their canvas sails.
This versatile workhorse plied the coastal trade routes and sailed on the high seas. It was one of the legendary sailing vessels that transported goods and passengers to Canadian ports and beyond, where the tall ships served as a testament to this nation’s shipbuilding and seafaring abilities. The mintage is limited to 1,200. HST/GST exempt. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Did You Know
Originally, “brig” was short for “brigantine” but it eventually came to signify a vessel with a different type of rigging than the brigantine. The brig is the larger of the two; it had two square-rigged masts that gave it greater sailing power for ocean passages but required a bigger crew. One of the most famous Nova Scotia-built brigantines is the legendary ghost ship Mary Celeste, which was originally launched as the Amazon in 1861 (the tall ship was previously featured on one of our coins). Another Canadian brigantine, the Dei Gratia, came upon an abandoned Mary Celeste near the Azores in 1872, and the fate of the ship’s missing crew remains an unsolved mystery.
Diameter: 29mm
Material: GOLD
Fineness: 0.9999
Weight: 15.43 grams
Bullion Weight: 0.4953 Troy Ounces
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II
Artist: Bonnie Ross
Finish: Proof
Series: Tall Ships
Quantity Produced: 1200
Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
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