1973 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Centenary Commemorative Medal

1973 Royal Canadian Mounted Police Centenary Commemorative Medal

In 1870, newly independent Canada took dominion of Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company. This massive expanse of territory was, until now, home to tribes of Cree and Blackfoot who lived by hunting buffalo and coexisted mostly in peace with HBC fur traders -- but this was coming to an end. America was eyeing northern expansion, and Canada, anxious, could only block them by expanding westward and doing it quickly. Of course, they were also watching America expand west, and the struggle with lawlessness and a hostile indigenous population that was an ever-growing problem. Canada sought to nip these problems in the bud.

In 1873, Ottawa established the North-West Mounted Police to maintain order in Rupert's Land, now the North-West Territories. Organized like a cavalry regiment and dressed in a scarlet jacket that recalled the traditional British army uniform, this new police force cracked down on American whiskey runners and squashed indigenous resistance -- which has left them with a rather mixed legacy. In 1920, the North-West Mounted Police joined with the Dominion Police (whose job was to guard government buildings) to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

In 1973, the RCMP celebrated the 100th anniversary of their founding. Many commemorative trinkets were produced, including this medallion which features the image of a North-West Mounted Police officer on horseback.