The Royal Canadian Mint, under license by CBS Consumer Products, is set to uncover a new world of collectibles celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series. The unforgettable characters and imagery of the revolutionary TV show, which has captivated legions of fans in Canada and around the world since 1966, have been captured on a stunning variety of coins devoted to the original series.
A $10 coloured silver coin picturing the commander of U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain James Tiberius Kirk, was unveiled by William Shatner, the Canadian-born actor who made this character a household name, and Mint President and CEO Sandra Hanington at an event hosted by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
“Through many unforgettable coins, the Royal Canadian Mint has skillfully captured the historical events and cultural experiences whose impact on Canadians continues to be felt today,” said the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance. “On the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series, the Government of Canada is pleased that the Mint could commemorate the historic influence of this ground-breaking television series and the uniquely Canadian contributions to its enduring success.”
“For 50 years, Star Trek captured the imagination of countless fans by entertaining us while opening our eyes to the possibilities of science and the wonders of our vast universe,” said Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “The Mint is proud to celebrate a cultural phenomenon that has carved a space in the hearts and minds of Canadians and fellow Star Trek fans all over Planet Earth.”
The fine silver coin featuring Captain Kirk can be purchased from the Mint as of May 13 at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, 1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca. It will also be available at the Royal Canadian Mint’s boutiques in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver, as well as through the Mint’s global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets. Information on other coins in the series and their availability dates can be found below.
2016 $10 FINE SILVER COIN SERIES – STAR TREK™: THE CHARACTERS AND THE TECHNOLOGY (COIN # 1: CAPTAIN KIRK)
This series of four coins celebrates some of the most iconic Star Trek characters, paired with some of the technology made famous by the show. The first coin features a coloured engraving of Captain James T. Kirk, commander of U.S.S. Enterprise, which appears in an overhead view of its saucer-shaped hull and twin warp nacelles. Captain Kirk and his ship are framed by the unmistakable outline of Starfleet’s Delta Shield insignia. Retailing for $54.95 CAD, this half-ounce, 99.99% pure silver coin is limited to a mintage of 12,500.
As per the following shipping dates, other favourite characters include:
- Scotty and Communicator (July 5)
- Communications Officer Uhura and Tricorder (August 2)
- Mr. Spock and Phaser (September 6)
2016 $20 FINE SILVER COIN – STAR TREK™: ENTERPRISE
The reverse design of this 99.99% pure silver coin features a colourful tribute to U.S.S. Enterprise which recreates a scene from the 1968 episode “I, Mudd”. Rich colour has been applied over an engraved scene of the famed star ship approaching a Class K planet, rendered in rich earth tones and set against the dark void of space. This 1 oz. silver coin is limited to a mintage of 11,500 and retails for $109.95 CAD.
2016 $20 FINE SILVER COIN SERIES – STAR TREK™: CLASSIC SCENES
This three-coin series captures classic scenes from the most popular episodes of the original Star Trek™ series. Beginning with “City on the Edge of Forever” from 1967, every scene is rendered in bold colour over an engraved surface. This coin features Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock standing among the ruins before the towering, ring-shaped entity known as The Guardian of Forever. Retailing for $109.95 CAD and limited to a mintage of 11,500, this 1 oz. silver coin is available as of August 2, 2016.
As per the following shipping dates, other favourite episodes in this series include:
- “Mirror Mirror” (September 6)
- “The Trouble with Tribbles” (October 4)
2016 $200 PURE GOLD COIN – STAR TREK™: DELTA COIN
One of the most cherished and recognized emblems of Star Trek™ is the Delta Shield insignia, which is celebrated in 99.99% pure gold on the world’s first delta-shaped coin. Reflecting the gold tone of the original series’ insignia, the Delta Shield featured on this 99.99% pure gold coin displays the elongated star symbol which identified crew assigned to Command. Available as of September 6, 2016, this exclusive collectible is limited to a low mintage of 1,500 coins and retails for $1,299.95 CAD.
2016 25-CENT COLOURED COIN AND STAMP SET – STAR TREK™: ENTERPRISE
The Mint has crafted a 25-cent face value, nickel-plated steel collector coin which is offered in a coin and stamp set retailing for $34.95 CAD and available while supplies last. The reverse design of the coin combines detailed engraving with vibrant colour in tribute to U.S.S. Enterprise. Outer space serves as the dark background in the outer ring, over which six different perspectives of Enterprise surround a central motif of a Delta Shield insignia. The stamps included in this special set feature Captain Kirk, U.S.S. Enterprise and a Klingon battle cruiser.
2016 $20 FINE SILVER COIN – STAR TREK™: ENTERPRISE
The newest edition of the Mint’s popular fine silver $20 coins, which are sold at face value as an affordable introduction to coin collecting, also celebrates U.S.S. Enterprise. This ¼ oz. silver coin features the famed star ship in attack mode, with her two phasers blasting into space. The scene is enhanced by a stylized Delta Shield incorporating the number “50” and coin lettering rendered in a Star Trek’ font. A total of 300,000 of these coins are being minted.
The obverses of all these coins feature the 2003 effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified company, the 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. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.
