Final Landing for Royal Canadian Mint Aviation Coin Series
OTTAWA, April 15 /1999/ - The Royal Canadian Mint concluded its popular
Powered Flight in Canada coin series today with two coins featuring Canadian
commuter aircraft, the de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, and the de Havilland
DHC-8 Dash 8. These coins are last of a ten coin series which began in 1995
paying tribute to the development of Canadian aircraft since World War II.
``Canada has played an important role in the history of aviation,'' said
Royal Canadian Mint President Danielle Wetherup. ``Our aviation coin series
has shown the world Canada's contribution to the development of this essential
mode of transport.''
Designed by Canadian artist Neil Aird, both coins feature close-ups of
the aircraft and 24 karat gold-covered cameos with the likeness of an
individual instrumental in the aircrafts' development. The cameo of coin nine
featuring the de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter portrays the likeness of George A.
Neal, Chief Test Pilot and Flight Operations Director with de Havilland.
Mr. Neal participated in the testing of the Twin Otter and its predecessor,
the Otter. The cameo of coin ten featuring the de Havilland DHC-8 Dash 8
portrays the likeness of Robert H. Fowler, a test pilot who performed the
first flights of the Dash 8.
The Powered Flight in Canada coin series began in 1990, featuring
Canadian aircraft that were designed, developed and/or manufactured in Canada,
and that made a significant contribution to both civil and military Canadian
aviation. Part one of the series features the first fifty years of aviation
in Canada, and part two, starting in 1995, features aircraft from after World
War II. Each coin in the series also features a gold cameo of an individual
whose work was essential to the development of the aircraft.
50,000 of each 1999 aviation coin will be available for $57.95 ($38.45
US). The coins come encapsulated and presented in an aluminum case modelled
after the wing of an aircraft with a propeller embossed on the cover. A
similar ten coin case is available for the entire series of ten coins. The
coins are available through the Royal Canadian Mint world-wide network of
dealers and distributors and, in North America, directly from the Mint by
calling 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US. The 1999 Aviation
coins are also available for purchase on-line via the Royal Canadian Mint Web
site.
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the
minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Royal Canadian
Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the
world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and
related services on an international scale.
DE HAVILLAND DHC-6 TWIN OTTER
DE HAVILLAND DHC-8 DASH 8
1999 AVIATION SERIES - PART II
Theme:
Powered Flight in Canada - Beyond World War II:
Commuter Planes
Commuter Planes: Coin 9 - The de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter:
Though the single-engine Otter - with its superb short-take-off-and-
landing (STOL) characteristics - dominated the bush plane market in
mid-century, when fitted with floats it had a limited payload. The appearance
of a new power plant in the late 1950s (a propeller turbine that gave more
power for a much lower installed weight than any equivalent piston engine)
cleared the way for the design of a new, twin-prop aircraft that would equal
the STOL performance of its predecessor and exceed its speed and load-carrying
capacity. De Havilland also worked closely with the military in the late
1950s to refine its STOL technology. The DHC-6 Twin Otter, the result of
these efforts, made its first test flight on May 20, 1965.
Though developed mainly for the bush plane market, the Twin Otter has
become one of the most lauded commuter aircraft in the world today, and it is
also used for military operations. Able to land and take off from short
runways, water and snow, the aircraft is superbly versatile. A total of 844
Twin Otters were built between 1965 and 1988 and sold all over the world. As
of 1990, more than 600 of these planes were still in service, reaching out to
previously inaccessible areas.
The cameo portrays George Neal, Chief Test Pilot and Flight Operations
Director with de Havilland. Mr. Neal participated in the testing of the Twin
Otter and its predecessor, the Otter. In 1989 he received the McKee Trophy
and in 1995 was elected to the Aviation Hall of Fame.
Coin 10 - The de Havilland DHC-8 Dash 8:
In the early 1980s, the rapidly expanding market for small, 30- to
40-seat airliners for the commuter trade gave rise to this elegant turboprop
aircraft. Designed to operate economically at crowded airports with short
runways, the DHC-8 Dash 8 is a fast, quiet high-wing, multi-purpose regional
transport aircraft. The sleek airframe enables the aircraft to reach cruising
speeds rapidly and to climb fast and steep to flying altitude. The Dash 8
made its first official flight on June 20, 1983.
With the development of the Dash 8's older cousins -- the Twin Otter and
the Dash 7, smaller and larger respectively than the Dash 8 -- de Havilland
had already established a stronghold in the area of STOL, with the Dash 8, de
Havilland entered the fast-growing regional transport field. During the
design phase, the manufacturers sent teams far and wide to collect information
on the requirements of small airlines so that the Dash 8 could be tailor-made
to satisfy the market. The resulting aircraft has sold briskly both to
regional airlines and corporate clients.
The cameo portrays Robert H. Fowler, OC. Mr. Fowler, who joined de
Havilland in 1952 as a test pilot, contributed to the development of flight
control and propeller systems which helped de Havilland to become a world
leader in the STOL concept. Later, he performed the first flights of the
Dash 8.
The Artist:
Neil Aird was born at Dumbarton, Scotland in 1945. Neil studied at the
Glasgow School of Art from 1963 to 1968 specializing in Design, Jewellery and
Silversmithing. He was awarded a post-graduate year with studies in Scotland
and Sweden.
In 1968 he emigrated to Canada receiving landed immigrant status that
year and citizenship in 1975. He worked for Kinnear d'Esterre for five years
as Designer-Goldsmith prior to setting up a private studio. In 1970 he
started teaching part-time at St. Lawrence College where he set up the
Jewellery Studio. He has taught there for twenty-seven years.
In 1978 the private studio moved to the heart of old Kingston and became
a studio/shop. In 1982 Metalworks - Contemporary Goldsmithing was moved to
its current King Street East location.
Some of his ongoing activities include contributing Editor to Westflight
Magazine, Vancouver, BC. Regular correspondent to Aviation Letter, edited/published in Hawaii and United Kingdom, and Air-Britain News Magazine published in United Kingdom. Photographs, reports and articles, International Aviation Research Specialist for Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. on DHC-2 and DHC-3
aircraft. Correspondent for various Internet groups on aviation subjects.
Aviation photographer. Currently doing research (since 1989) for book to be
published in the future.
COIN SPECIFICATIONS:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Composition: Coin - 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
Cameo - 24-karat gold covered
Weight: 31.103 grams
Diameter: 38 mm
Thickness: 3.5 mm
Edge: Interrupted serration
Face value: $20
Finish: Proof (frosted relief on a brilliant background)
Mintage: Maximum of 50,000 for each coin world-wide
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obverse:
Contemporary effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by artist Dora de
Pédery-Hunt.
Reverse:
Coin 9 - Features a close up view of a de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter.
The cameo portrays the likeness of George A. Neal, Chief Test Pilot and Flight
Operations Director with de Havilland. Mr. Neal participated in the testing of
the Twin Otter and its predecessor, the Otter. In 1989 he received the McKee
Trophy and in 1995 was elected to the Aviation Hall of Fame.
Coin 10 - Features a close up view of a de Havilland DHC-8 Dash 8. The
cameo portrays the likeness of Robert H. (Bob) Fowler, OC. Mr. Fowler, who
joined de Havilland in 1952 as a test pilot, contributed to the development of
flight control and propeller systems which helped de Havilland to become a
world leader in the STOL concept. Later, he performed the first flights of
the Dash 8. A member of the Aviation Hall of Fame, he holds both the Order of
Canada and the McKee Trophy.
Packaging:
Single coins Complete Series
Individually encapsulated A 10-coin case is
and presented in an available for the entire
aluminum case modelled after series of 10 coins.
the wing of an aircraft, with
a propeller embossed on
the cover.
Certificate:
A numbered Certificate of Authenticity, with a background illustration
designed by the artist, is included with each coin.
HISTORY OF AVIATION SERIES
The Aviation series began in 1990. Ten coins were released in Part I of
the series which was titled ``The First 50 Years,'' covering the period up to
World War II. Part II is titled ``Powered Flight in Canada: Beyond World War
II,'' and covers the period from the late 1940s to the present. To date,
eight coins of a final total of ten have been released in Part II.
Overall, the series focuses on aircraft designed, developed and/or
manufactured in Canada that made a significant contribution to both civil and
military Canadian aviation. The coins released in each year show
representations of some of the finest Canadian aircraft of a particular period
in history.
THEMES OF COINS IN AVIATION SERIES, PART I
1990
Coin 1: Lancaster 683 Avro / John Emilius Fauquier
Coin 2: Anson & Harvard / Robert Leckie
1991
Coin 3: The Silver Dart / John A.D. McCurdy & F.W. (Casey) Baldwin
Coin 4: De Havilland Beaver / Phillip Clarke Garratt
1992
Coin 5: The Curtiss JN-4 (Canadian) Sir Frank Wilton Baillie
Coin 6: De Havilland Gipsy Moth / Murton A. Seymour
1993
Coin 7: The Fairchild 71C / James A. Richardson
Coin 8: Lockheed 14 Super Electra / Zebulon Lewis Leigh
1994
Coin 9: The Curtiss HS-2L / Stuart Graham
Coin 10: The Canadian Vickers Vedette / Wilfrid T. Reid
THEMES OF COINS IN AVIATION SERIES, PART II
1995
Coin 1: Fleet 80 Canuck / J. Omer (Bob) Noury
Coin 2: de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk / W/C Russell Bannock
1996
Coin 2: CF-100 Canuck / Jan Zurakowski
Coin 3: CF-105 Avro Arrow / James A. Chamberlin
1997
Coin 5: Canadair F-86 Sabre / Fern Villeneuve
Coin 6: Canadair CT 114 Tutor / Edward Higgins
1998
Coin 7: Canadair CP-107 Argus / W.S. Longhurst
Coin 8: Canadair CL-215 Waterbomber / Paul Gagnon
1999
Coin 9: de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter / George A. Neal
Coin 10: de Havilland DHC-8 Dash 8 / Robert H. (Bob) Fowler
|