2014 $20 RMS Empress of Ireland Lost Ships 1 oz Silver Serial# 1914 Year it Sank

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2014 $20 RMS Empress of Ireland Lost Ships 1 oz Silver Serial# 1914 Year it Sank:
$112.95

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2014 $20 RMS Empress of Ireland, LostShips in Canadian Waters Series - 1 Oz. Pure Silver Color Proof Coin - Unique Serial Number!

Unique COA Serial Number: 1914 - the year thatthe ship was lost! Edge-lettering displays the ship\'sname!

Specifications

Composition - 99.99%pure silver

Finish - proof

Weight (g) - 31.39 (onetroy oz.)

Diameter (mm) - 38

Edge - plain with edgelettering

Certificate – serial number 1914

Face value - 20 dollars(a legal tender Canadian coin)

Artists - John Horton(reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Description

This coin is one of the kind - the only 2014 $20 Empress of Ireland Color Silver Proof with the serial number matching the date when the ship was lost!

It was the greatestmaritime disaster in Canadian history - a tragedy unparalleled by the loss oflife and the speed at which the events unfolded. The sinking of RMS Empress of Ireland made headlines around the world in 1914;sadly, the onset of the First World War would quickly overshadow the eventsthat transpired in the waters near Rimouski, Quebec.

Built in Scotland by theFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Empress of Ireland was launched on January 27, 1906. Measuring 172 meters long and 20 meters wide,the Canadian Pacific Railway steamship was widely regarded at the time as oneof the fastest and most comfortable passenger ships for the transatlanticjourney between England and Canada.

On the afternoon of May28, 1914, the Empress left its berthin Quebec\'s harbor for its first summer voyage to Liverpool. In the early morning hours of May 29, theliner was steaming down the St. Lawrence River near Pointe-au-Père when, at1:40 a.m., the Norwegian collier Storstadwas sighted at about eight miles to starboard. Both crews attempted to anticipate oneanother\'s course as a thick fog engulfed them, forcing Captain Henry GeorgeKendall to bring the Empress to astop. But minutes later, the Storstad emerged from the fog at a mere30 meters from the Empress - it was too late for either ship to alter itscourse, and at 1:55 a.m., the Storstad\'sreinforced hull plowed into the center of the Empress.

The Empress could not withstand such damage to its compartments. Water rushed into the Empress, trapping many passengers inside their cabins. The ship listed sharply on its starboard side,allowing water to pour in through the portholes and rendering it impossible toclose most of the watertight doors. Thetragedy was further compounded when only a few of the lifeboats were able to belaunched before the ship turned over completely on its side. In the span of a mere 14 minutes after thecollision, RMS Empress of Ireland hadsunk to its final resting place.

Of the 1,477 passengersonboard RMS Empress of Ireland, 1,012perished, including 134 children. Formost, the Empress will be foreverlinked with its tragic end, but it is also remembered for the thousands ofimmigrants who boarded this great liner to make their journey to a new life inCanada. In 1999, the wreck site wasclassified as a historical and archaeological property, and it has since earneda protected status as a National Historic Site.

Special features:

· This coin commemorates the 100th anniversaryof the loss of RMS Empress of Irelandand features edge-lettering that displays the ship\'s name, as well as a bell:one of the recovered artifacts from the wreck. The serial number, 1914, matches the year when the ship was lost!

·The coin features astunning color portrait, framed within the coastline of the St. Lawrenceseaway, and shows the RMS Empress of Irelandmoments before her collision with the Storstad.

·This coin is the firstin a 3-coin series that commemorates well-known vessels that have been lost inCanadian waters, and the stories that have emerged from the events surroundingtheir final fate.

·This coin is 99.99% puresilver, and has a limited worldwide mintage.

·This coin is aprestigious addition to any Canadiana,history, fine silver color proof, orcommemorative collection. It also makesan outstanding gift coin!

Design:

Designed by Canadianartist John Horton, the coin uses selective paint to recreate the imminentcollision of RMS Empress of Irelandand the Norwegian collier Storstadduring the early morning hours of May 29, 1914. Rolling in from the coast (engraved in thebackground), the thick fog comes between the two ships in the colored centerportion of the image field. The shadowyimage of the Storstad emerges fromthe right side of the image, its sharp bow in line to make contact with the Empress\'s starboard side. The passenger ship\'s stern and funnels arepartially unobstructed by the fog in this image, to provide a glimpse of theliner before tragedy would send it to its final resting place on the bottom ofthe St. Lawrence River.

Packaging:

This coin is encapsulatedand presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clam-shell with a custombeauty box.

Shipping & Handling

Fast, free shipping & handling viaUSPS First Class Mail to all U.S. addresses!

USPS Priority Mail andPriority MailExpressare also available for anadditional charge.

International shippingvia ’s Global Shipping Program.

Additional Information

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Photos: When a listing offers multiples of the same coin, one coin is picked at random and photographed. Since all coins offered in that listing are essentially identical, the coin photographed is representative of all coins offered.

Surface areas that appear black on some proof coin photos are actually highly polished, mirror-bright metal reflecting the color of the camera.

Our goal is to provide clear, high definition photos that accurately represent the coin(s) offered in each of our items. Whenever possible, we use actual photos of our coins, rather than just “artist’s conception” drawings from the Mint. We frequently update and upgrade the photos that appear with our listings, using improved cameras and lenses and better lighting. We will honor your requests for additional photos as quickly as our schedule permits.

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