2015 Canadian $20 TORONTO 2015™ Pan Am and Parapan Am Games: United We Play!™ - 1 oz Fine Silver Hologram Coin

2015 Canadian $20 TORONTO 2015™ Pan Am and Parapan Am Games: United We Play!™ - 1 oz Fine Silver Hologram Coin

Just as the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games will bring together different cultures under its motto United We Play!, the coin's reverse features the symbolic representation of this theme. The groundbreaking use of mokume gane* on the reverse's maple leaf is particularly fitting: layers of different metal alloys are united, fused together to create one useable material that is cut, forged and pressed to create the motif on Canada's national symbol. The patterns are distinct and unique from one coin to another, yet this extra detail infuses the design with energy alongside the curved lines and pictograms. The motto itself is engraved along the coin's rim in the three official languages of the TORONTO 2015 Games: English, French and Spanish.

For the first time ever, each of these coins is unique as they were crafted with mokume gane! This ancient Japanese sword-making technique was considered impossible for coins—until now! The melding of copper and silver has created a stunning leaf motif that will be yours alone.

The unique qualities of mokume gane* are symbolic of the Games' celebration of diversity: no two coins will feature the same pattern on Canada's national symbol, the maple leaf!

Don't be disappointed, order your coin today!

Features

A WORLD FIRST! The ancient technique of mokume gane* has never been used before on a coin—until now! In what was previously thought impossible on a coin, the skilful melding of copper and silver produces an eye-catching motif on the reverse's maple leaf, adding vibrancy to the design that matches the energy of the Games.
EACH COIN UNIQUE: No two coins will feature the exact same maple leaf patterning, ensuring a truly one-of-a-kind collectible piece.
OWN THE COMPLETE SET! This is just one of three stunning TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games coins. Order all three to make a complete set!
Elements of the coin's design reinforce the Games motto United We Play!, emphasizing inclusion through sport and celebrating the diversity of the Pan Americas region, as athletes come together in Toronto in the summer of 2015.
The medals design team was a collaborative process involving the TO2015 brand and creative services team, the Royal Canadian Mint and artist Christi Belcourt.
Like the medals, your coin features the unique patterns achieved through the ancient technique of mokume gane*, which dates back to 16th century sword making.
The reverse was designed by Christi Belcourt, a Métis visual artist whose work has earned her recognition and awards from the Canadian Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Métis Nation of Ontario.

Design

This coin celebrates the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games by bringing together Aboriginal art and elements associated with the Games in an engaging manner. Inspired by the Games logo, curved pictograms emphasize the theme of inclusion through sport; to the left, a ball is used to represent the sun rising in the sky over the Games. Traditionally considered the lifeblood of the earth, the element of water as a sustaining force for athletes and its fluidity are symbolized in the curved lines that represent the rivers, lakes and oceans of the Pan Americas. While skilful engraving adds beautiful detail to the richly layered design, the groundbreaking use of mokume gane draws the eye to the maple leaf insert. In keeping with the Games theme of coming together, the effect is first created by the fusion of different metal alloys to create one base material, which is then carved, forged and shaped. This creates the intricate pattern symbolizing the blood, sweat and tears of each athlete's journey to TORONTO 2015, while the one-of-a-kind nature of each coin's motif reinforces the Games' overall celebration of diversity. Along the image field, the motto United We Play! is engraved in the three official languages of the TORONTO 2015 Games: English, French and Spanish.

The Pan Am and Parapan Am Games are held every four years, in the year preceding the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. They have been held twice before in Canada, in 1967 and 1999, both times in Winnipeg, Manitoba. TORONTO 2015 —the “People's Games”—emphasize accessibility and the coming together of 41 countries and territories through the power of sport and culture.

Packaging

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

Specifications

Face Value: $20
Mintage: 8,500
Composition: 99.99% Silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Finish: Proof