The year 2012 marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812—a formative moment in Canadian history.
This $250 coin is certified to be 99.99% pure silver with a weight of 1,000 grams and a diameter of 102.1 millimetres. Its reverse image, finely crafted by Royal Canadian Mint engravers, depicts a detail from John David Kelly’s renowned 1896 painting, Battle of Queenston Heights, 13 October 1812. The famous artwork is one of the most highly recognized portrayals of the War of 1812 and of the Battle of Queenston Heights. In the foreground, Major General Isaac Brock lies dying in the tall grasses of the region. Two soldiers attend to him, one holding Brock under the arms while the other, kneeling on Brock’s right side, attempts to loosen the Major General’s coat. Brock holds aloft his sword in his right hand, urging his men on even in his final moments. In the front right section of the image, First Nations warriors clamber over rocky outcroppings, tomahawks raised, running furiously toward the smoke-filled fray in the distance. One First Nations warrior in the centre of the image raises both arms to the sky, head thrown back in a mighty war cry. To Brock’s far left, British troops and Canadian militia, flags in hand and bayonets slung over their shoulders, march in formation toward the battle. Just ahead of them, an American soldier lies fallen in the grass. In the middle distance, the opposing armies meet, vast clouds of smoke rising from their struggle. In the far distance, mountainous terrain rises above the St. Lawrence River, which is visible in the upper left portion of the image. The image is striking for its symbolic portrayal of British troops, Canadian militiamen, and First Nations warriors fighting together to fend off American invasion.
Diameter: 102.1mm
Weight: 1000g
Material: Silver
Fineness: 0.9999
Bullion Weight: 32.15 Troy Ounces
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II
Reverse: Battle Field
Finish: Proof
Series: War of 1812
Quantity Produced: 700
Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
Theme(s): War of 1812
|