Elizabeth II - 1 Dollar 1858-1958 British Columbia Centenary

Country: Canada. Queen Elizabeth II 
Type: Circulating commemorative coin
Years: 1958 
Value: 1 Dollar (1)
Currency: Canadian Dollar (1858-Date)
Mintage: 3,039,630
Composition: Silver (.800)
Weight: 23 g
Diameter: 36.06 mm
Shape: Round
Orientation: Medal alignment ↑↑
Grade: XF
References: KM# 55, Schön# 56

Commemorative issue:
100th Anniversary of British Columbia.

Obverse:
The portrait in right profile of Elizabeth II, when she was 27 years old, legend around.

Lettering:
ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA
M G

Translation: Elizabeth II Queen by the grace of God

Engraver: Mary Gillick

Reverse:
A totem pole before coastal mountains.

Lettering:
CANADA BRITISH COLUMBIA
1858
1958
DOLLAR

Engraver: Stephen Trenka

Edge:
Reeded.

Comments:
The reverse shows the design of a Northwest Coast First Nations totem pole with mountains in the background. An apocryphal but widely circulated story holds that the top element in the pole is Raven, used by some First Nations to symbolize death. As a result, it was rumored that those First Nations disliked the dollars, causing them to be called "DEATH DOLLARS." However, the figure with upright ears, a distinct nose, long claws, and what may be a tongue sticking out is not Raven, but more likely Bear, beneath her her cub. This motif appears on many totem poles. Further, neither Bear nor Raven is associated with death; the former is a common clan-owned crest, the latter is a celebrated Trickster and Creator figure central to hundreds of stories of the peoples of the Northwest Coast.

Référence : KM# 55, Schön# 56

Source : https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4...

Collection : Canada - Monnaies et Tokens