The Star Trek commemorations continue at the Royal Canadian Mint with two new silver coins
It isn’t just the Perth Mint that’s continuing with its Star Trek commemorative coin range this month, the Royal Canadian Mint have made additions as well. Two new silver issues debut this month, one celebrating Star Trek in general and a second aimed more specifically at the 30th anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
First up is a two-ounce coin depicting the five captains that have headlined the five major series of this much-loved science-fiction franchise. The five characters, all coloured, radiate out from the iconic delta symbol so associated with the cult series. Just the date and the title ‘STAR TREK’ are inscribed on this face, helping keep it clean and uncluttered. The cool part comes with the integration of a glow-in-the-dark treatment. When the lights go out, the main design disappears and is replaced by a front-on image of the first USS Enterprise firing its phasers (run your mouse over the image below to see the effect). It looks very well done.
The second is a one-ounce coin featuring one of the franchises big villains, the Borg. Introduced in the Next Generation, they eventually appeared in several series and movies to often great effect. It’s a typical RCM coloured coin. A great image showing the Enterprise-D being chased by a Borg Cube takes centre-stage, with a Borg ship type texture surrounding it. Just the inscription CANADA 2017 resides on this face.
Both coins have Susanna Blunts effigy of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and are packaged in heavily themed shippers containing serialised certificates of authenticity. The Five Captains coins has a mintage of 5,000 and will sell for $194.95, with the Borg coin having a mintage twice as large and a price of $112.95. Plenty of choice for Star Trek fans this month, all three solid if a little unadventurous. We’d still like to see a series of clean coins like the New Zealand Mint’s superb Classic Star Wars range that go through Trek’s huge history, but it’s good to see this important television franchise remembered regardless.
2017 STAR TREK FIVE CAPTAINS GLOW-IN-THE-DARK SILVER COIN
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MINTS DESCRIPTION: To the millions of Canadian fans, they served as our leaders in this fictional journey across the stars. They taught us about trust and loyalty, integrity and compassion, and above all, dedication. Through the strength of their character and the conviction of their beliefs, they served as a moral compass in times of conflict and embodied our hopes for the future of humanity.
Whether commanding a starship or a space station, each of these five captains defined their respective television series. Their distinctly different styles of leadership inspired their crew—and us, the viewers—to follow them time and time again as they rose to the challenges that come with boldly going “where no man has ever gone before.”
DESIGN: Your coin features a rich colour application over the engraved portraits of the five captains of the Star Trek™ television series. From left to right, there’s Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks) of Star Trek™ : Deep Space Nine (1993-1999); Jonathan Archer (portrayed by Scott Bakula) of the most recent series, Star Trek™: Enterprise (2001-2005); James T. Kirk (Canadian actor William Shatner) from Star Trek™: The Original Series (1966-1969); Jean-Luc Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) from Star Trek™: The Next Generation (1987-1994); and Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) of Star Trek™: Voyager (1995-2001). The portraits are positioned around an engraved Delta Shield Insignia and against a space background; they gently overlap the outer band in which the words “CANADA”, “STAR TREK” and the year “2017” are engraved.
When viewed in the dark, glow-in-the-dark elements reveal a second image on the reverse—a head-on view of U.S.S. Enterprise in flight. Between the Enterprise‘s phaser beams lies an illuminated Delta Shield Insignia, which became the identifying emblem of Starfleet; it bears the five-point star that is indicative of a command rank.
PACKAGING: Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a premium graphic box.
2017 STAR TREK THE BORG PROOF SILVER COIN
MINTS DESCRIPTION: From 1987 to 1994, Star Trek™: The Next Generation built upon the spirit of The Original Series by updating the themesto reflect its time. Even today, Canadian Star Trek™ fans remain as dedicated as ever to it, with a stellar cast of characters and gripping episodes such as “The Best of Both Worlds,” which included one of the most memorable antagonists of all time: the Borg.
The formidable Borg pose one of the greatest threats to the Federation. They are uncompromising in their desire for “perfection,” which drives their single-minded pursuit to assimilate new worlds, technologies and people—including, briefly, Captain Jean-Luc Picard himself!
DESIGN: Your coin combines colour and engraving for a truly unique tribute to the 30th anniversary of Star Trek™: The Next Generation. The field includes an outstanding amount of detailed engraving that provides a rare close-up for Star Trek™ fans: it’s the exterior of a Borg cube vessel, whose ominous appearance strikes fear in the hearts of characters and viewers alike. Against this engraved background, a colourful depiction of a tension-filled scene finds a Borg cube locking onto the U.S.S. Enterprise with its green tractor beam, as part of their relentless pursuit to assimilate technology, worlds and even beings. Your coin also includes the words “STAR TREKTM/MC”, “CANADA” and the year “2017”, all engraved in a Star Trek™ font.
PACKAGING: Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a premium graphic box.
SPECIFICATION
| NAME | 2017 THE BORG | 2017 FIVE CAPTAINS |
| DENOMINATION | $20 Canadian | $30 Canadian |
| COMPOSITION | 0.9999 silver | 0.9999 silver |
| WEIGHT | 31.39 grams | 62.67 g |
| DIAMETER | 38.00 mm | 54.00 mm |
| FINISH | Proof | Proof |
| MODIFICATIONS | Selective colouring | Selective colouring / Glow |
| MINTAGE | 10,000 | 5,000 |
| BOX / COA | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
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