2015 Canadian $20 70th Anniversary of the End of the Italian Campaign - 1 oz Fine Silver Limited Edition Coin

2015 Canadian $20 70th Anniversary of the End of the Italian Campaign - 1 oz Fine Silver Limited Edition Coin

The Italian Campaign was Canada's first full-scale ground operation of the Second World War. By the summer of 1943, the Allies were revitalised by victories in North Africa and were seeking to open up a second battlefront by invading Germany's Axis ally, Italy. On the morning of July 10, 1943, Canada joined its allies in the planned invasion of Sicily; in September, they began their slow crawl up the mountainous Italian peninsula.  Although the Allies would ultimately be victorious, the 20-month operation proved to be a bitterly fought campaign against occupying Nazi forces who fiercely defended their hold at every turn. On the 70th anniversary of this strategic operation, the Royal Canadian Mint honours Canada's veterans of this Second World War campaign with a fine silver coin that offers a glimpse of the realities of the war in places such as Ortona, Cassino and Rimini.

An ideal gift for a war historian! Order yours today!

Features

A FIRST! UNIQUE DIORAMA! Unique packaging features a diorama case that recreates a battle-ravaged Italian village and difficult fighting conditions that Canadians encountered during the bitterly fought Italian Campaign.
The obverse features the effigy of King George VI by T. H. Paget.
Crafted from 99.99% pure silver, this coin commemorates the 70th anniversary of the end of the Italian Campaign.
Your coin marks Canada's first large-scale ground operation of the Second World War and Canadians faced fierce fighting in areas such as Ortona, where they were forced to use the tactic of mouse-holing (breaking through inside walls to access adjoining buildings) to avoid enemy sniper fire out in the streets.
Internationally renowned craftsmanship and exceptional engraving bring to life the finely detailed image of a Canadian tank and soldiers moving through the rubble-filled streets.
A beautiful collectible for commemorators, and a prestigious addition to any Canadian military- or history-themed collection.
Your coin is GST/HST exempt.
Your coin is a unique standalone product and is not included in any subscriptions, so order yours today!

Design

Designed by Canadian illustrator Joel Kimmel, your coin recreates the sense of danger and the fierce fighting that awaited Canadian soldiers in the narrow streets of Italian towns such as Ortona during the winter of 1943. In the background, the crumbling remnants of stone buildings are indicative of the sheer destruction caused by combat that was often fought in close quarters. In the centre, a Canadian Sherman tank rumbles through the rubble-filled streets, causing dust to fill the air behind it. The tank is flanked by two Canadian soldiers who, despite the risk of sniper fire and landmines, bravely move along the streets as they clear the town and search for survivors.

Packaging

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded diorama case with graphic beauty box.

Specifications

Face Value: $20
Mintage: 10,000
Composition: 99.99% Silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Finish: Proof