The FIRST coin in a series that explores the highest honours in Canada’s Honours System and is the first time the Sacrifice Medal has appeared on a coin—especially one crafted in 99.99% fine silver. In war, triumph often comes with sacrifice and loss—a sentiment embodied by the mournful statue “Canada” found at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. On the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, this fine silver coin re-creates the Sacrifice Medal and pays tribute to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who, like many who fought at Vimy in 1917, have been wounded by hostile action or have died as a result of their military service.
Selective colour re-creates the eye-catching red, white and black of the Sacrifice Medal’s ribbon, while careful engraving and finishes replicate the medal’s design in meticulous detail. The reverse presents a faithful reproduction of the Sacrifice Medal, with all of the details that carry the full weight of the symbolism from the original design. The real-life Medal has a diameter of 36 millimetres; here, the coin’s 40 mm diameter allows for a partial view of the watered ribbon attached to a suspension bar at the top of the Medal, which is ornamented with the Royal Crown (St. Edward’s Crown) to represent The Queen as Canada’s Head of State and Head of the armed forces. Selective colour re-creates the ribbon’s black central stripe that symbolizes mourning and grief; this is flanked by the red stripes that represent the blood spilled, while smaller white stripes speak of peace and hope for a better future.
On the Medal itself, detailed engraving recreates the familiar representation of the cloaked statue “Canada” found at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Vimy, France. With a downcast expression that personifies a nation’s sorrow for her fallen, the mournful figure faces right towards the flat horizon—itself a representation of the loneliness and isolation of mourning—while the word “SACRIFICE” looms just above it in the sky. The reverse also features the engraved double date “1917-2017” to represent the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, while the obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
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