The Royal Canadian Mint has selected a design by Granthams Landing artist Jan Poynter for their latest limited edition $15 coin, released on March 2.
Poynter’s design was inspired by cherry blossoms, specifically those blooming at the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay.
The successful bid began when the artist and illustrator was invited to be a feature artist in the 2015 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. This popular event drew much online and social media attention. Several months later, Poynter received an email from the Royal Canadian Mint requesting a submission of artwork for a coin design that would feature a cherry blossom to celebrate spring. After many concept sketches, several design submissions and numerous revisions within a very tight deadline, Poynter was notified that her submission was the winning design.
She will be attending a celebration at the Gibsons post office this Friday, March 4 at 2 p.m. to honour this creative contribution to the Royal Canadian Mint.
The coin, made from 99.99 per cent pure silver, is stamped from an engraved die and polished. The original design of a flowering cherry tree is digitally printed by a separation colour process directly to the coin face in full colour. After some research into the popularity of numismatics (coin collecting), Poynter hopes to design more, using the updated technology now available at the Mint.
“It astounded me,” she said, “the breadth of techniques used in coin production all over the world.”
She was familiar with the process, having spent several years as designer for a badge and medallion manufacturer, AJ Parkes, in Brisbane, Australia. Her experience also includes work as a designer for print, laser cutting and resin casting manufacturers and conceptual illustration of products and architecture.
You can order your coin at the post office or shop online at www.mint.ca. Poynter explains that the pricing is not based on the denomination, but on the value of the materials used. The blossom coin will cost $64.95.
