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2021 Canada $50 Lost Then Found: Champlain and the Astrolabe Fine Silver (No Tax)
Rediscovered in Canada, the tale of the 17th century mariner's astrolabe found in Cobden, Ontario, is the inspiration for the latest 5oz silver coin. This coin features a small-scale replica of the lost-then-found astrolabe, cast in silver and bronze plated atop Samuel de Champlain's map of New France (1632). As of 1989, this infamous astrolabe is now located in the Canadian Museum of History.
Known as a navigational tool during the 16th and 17th centuries, astrolabes were made of brass or bronze and designed to be used at sea. It contained four windows that allowed the wind to pass through while a weight at the bottom kept it steady. As common as this tool was used during the 16th and 17th centuries, approximately a hundred still exist today (five known to be within Canada) including the famous astrolabe found on this coin.
The tale of Samuel de Champlain's "lost" astrolabe arouse in the 19th century after the astrolabe was discovered in 1867. However, Champlain's detailed account of his 1613 expedition upon the Ottawa River neglects to mention the lost navigational instrument. Despite this, the mariner's astrolabe contained the inscription "1603" and lay on a rare portage route used by Champlain. The French explorer would have used the astrolabe to navigate the seas and charting coasts and waterways of eastern Canada.
Designed by Royal Canadian Mint engravers, the coin's reverse features an small-scale replica of the 17th century navigational astrolabe found near Cobden, Ontario. The astrolabe found upon this 5oz coin is cast in silver and plated in bronze. To accent the lost astrolabe, is an engraved reproduction of Samuel de Champlain's hand-drawn map of New France (1632), which is framed by the astrolabe's graduated scale. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Specifications:
Item Number: 200315
Mintage: 1,000 worldwide
Composition: Coin - 99.99% pure silver, Embellishment - 99.99% pure silver with bronze plating
Weight*: Coin - 157.6 g, Embellishment - 10.6 g
Diameter: Coin - 65.25 mm, Embellishment - 23.75 mm
Face Value: $50
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Royal Canadian Mint Engravers
Special Features
• Follow the tale of the 17th century mariner's astrolabe found near Cobden, Ontario and popularly associated with French explorer-cartographer Samuel de Champlain.
• The reproduction of the mariner's astrolabe is cast in silver and bronze-plating atop a 5oz 99.99% silver coin.
• Discover two treasures in one design with the engraved rendering of Samuel de Champlain's hand-drawn map of New France as the backdrop for the mariner's astrolabe.
• Mintage is limited to just 1,000 coins worldwide.
• To reproduce the map's elements, a mix of traditional and laser engraving techniques known by the Royal Canadian Mint were used to highlight the finer details and add astounding dimension to the coin.
Packaging:
Coin comes encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.
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