© gvaicika (CC BY-NC-SA)
© gvaicika (CC BY-NC-SA)
3 Dollars - Elizabeth II Battle of Vimy Ridge
2017 year| Silver (.9999) | 7.96 g | 27 mm |
| Issuer | Canada |
|---|---|
| Queen | Elizabeth II (1952-2022) |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
| Year | 2017 |
| Value | 3 Dollars 3 CAD = USD 2.22 |
| Currency | Dollar (1858-date) |
| Composition | Silver (.9999) |
| Weight | 7.96 g |
| Diameter | 27 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#128827 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 66% |
Reverse
"Canada Bereft" and the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in Vimy, France.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
CANADA 2017
VIMY
LM
FINE SILVER 9999 ARGENT PUR 3 DOLLARS
Designer: Laurie McGaw
Edge
Reeded
Comment
In April 1917, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps were ordered to capture the heavily fortified Vimy Ridge in northern France. This was the first battle in which soldiers from across the country fought shoulder to shoulder. Using innovative tactics, these forces achieved a hard-fought victory, a feat that earned them a reputation as formidable adversaries on the Western Front, and inspired a sense of national pride and unity. It was one of Canada's feats of arms in the First World War - but one for which it paid a heavy price, with almost 11,000 of its soldiers wounded or killed.Since 1936, an impressive national monument has marked the site, paying tribute to the Canadian soldiers who fought for peace and freedom during the Great War. The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to honor the memory of Canadians who served during the Battle of Vimy Ridge - and throughout the conflict - with an evocative pure silver coin featuring a moving symbol of a nation's sacrifice, even in triumph.
Did you know that?
German forces seized the seven-kilometer ridge and surrounding territory in 1914. The French attempted to retake the area in May 1915, and again in September of the same year, at a cost of some 150,000 casualties - by comparison, 100,000 Canadians took part in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917.
The Vimy Memorial was inaugurated by King Edward VIII on July 26, 1936, in a ceremony attended by over 100,000 people, including many dignitaries and veterans.
Visitors to the Vimy Memorial in France can still see part of the Grange underpass, part of a network dug at least 10 metres deep.
For their individual acts of bravery, four Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross: Private William Milne, Lance-Sergeant Ellis Sifton, Captain Thain MacDowell and Private John Pattison.
The commander of the Canadian Corps, Lieutenant-General Julian Byng, was so beloved by his soldiers that they nicknamed themselves the "Byng Boys". After the war, he was awarded the peerage, followed by the title of First Viscount Vimy, and served as Governor General of Canada from 1921 to 1926.
The battle
Intense preparation marked the weeks leading up to the offensive: Canadian soldiers used models and maps to rehearse and recreate the conditions they would face during the attack. Tunnels were dug right up to the front lines and under the disputed zone, which was sometimes equipped with rails, water inlets, electricity systems and large weapons depots. Each infantry soldier knows his own task, having been assigned a specialized role, such as grenadier, rifleman or machine-gunner.
After a sustained bombardment (dubbed the "week of suffering" by the German forces defending the ridge), a first wave of 15,000 Canadian soldiers was deployed at 5:30 a.m. on April 9, 1917. The infantry advanced behind a rolling barrage, preceded by a line of relentless artillery fire aimed directly ahead to weaken and destroy enemy defenses. But not all Canadians advance side by side; instead, they employ a new technique of attacking in depth and in phases. And this innovative tactic paid off: within half an hour, they had seized part of the front line, and by noon, most of the ridge was in Allied hands. On April 10, a bayonet charge enabled Canada to seize Hill 145, its highest point, followed by the "Pimple" on April 12. Defeated, the enemy surrendered the position it had occupied since 1914.
The monument
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is located 14 kilometers north of the French town of Arras, on Hill 145, overlooking the former battlefield. This battle-scarred land was ceded to Canada in perpetuity in 1922, and in 1925, Canada began work on a monument to honour all Canadian soldiers who fought in the First World War.
Completed in 1936, the Vimy Memorial was designed by Canadian sculptor Walter Allward in a modern classical style. Its two 30-metre towers, representing Canada and France, rise above the battlefield memorial park on their stone and concrete plinths. All along their outer walls are inscribed the names of the 11,285 Canadians who fell in France during the First World War and have no known grave. The sense of loss is exacerbated by the sculpture Canada in Mourning, projecting from the front of the monument; one of 20 allegorical sculptures on the site, the figure of Mother Canada, wearing a mournful cape, symbolizes a nation mourning its lost sons. Her gaze rests on the tomb below, adorned with laurel branches, a sword and a Brodie helmet.
Surrounded by preserved trenches and tunnels, this powerful Canadian tribute to the fighters of the First World War would survive the Second - even if Vimy fell back into enemy hands in 1940. In 2007, following a major restoration, the iconic Vimy Memorial was re-inaugurated, and remains one of Canada's most important monuments. A timeless symbol of bravery, peace and honour, it is also a poignant reminder of the tragic cost of war.
Interesting fact
The interesting fact about this coin is that it commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a significant event in Canadian history. The coin's design features a soldier standing on the ridge, with the Canadian flag in the background, and the words "Battle of Vimy Ridge" inscribed below. The coin's silver content and weight also make it a valuable collector's item.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 3 Dollars - Elizabeth II (Battle of Vimy Ridge) 2017 coin.
