Canada 2011 Shipping Trade SS Beaver Steamship $200 Gold Proof in FULL OGP

Description: In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment! Long SOLD OUT at the Royal Canadian Mint! Celebrate the shipping trade with the SS Beaver steam-powered paddle wheel sailing ship or tall ship, minted in solid gold with a proof finish! We don't give it even a passing thought, but on a daily basis we wear, drive and use goods from all over the world—all brought to us courtesy of the shipping trade! The engine of international commerce has relied on ships and the sea to bring products to market since ancient times. Canada is no exception to this, so it was a landmark in its commercial growth when the Hudson's Bay Company commissioned the first Canadian steamship, the S.S. Beaver. On this gold gem, handcrafted artistry and cutting-edge craftsmanship ensure ultra-crisp definition and relief. Laser technology that makes the steam shimmer in black and the high $200 face value make this low-mintage gold proof a must-have work of art! For hundreds of years, sailing ships ruled the seas. They were the driving instrument of global exploration, settlement and trade. By the early eighteenth century, however, a new technology emerged that would supplant the sail. It was the steam engine. With this new source of internal power, ships were no longer at the fickle mercy of the shifting wind. As steam power improved, ships reduced the length of voyages by days, weeks, and even months, further expediting trade between all points of the globe! S.S. Beaver—Canada's First Steamship! Beaver was built in London of British oak, elm, greenheart and teak, and was copper fastened and sheathed. Her length was 101 feet (31 m), and the beam over her paddle boxes was 33 feet (10 m). She was launched at Blackwall Yard on 9 May 1835 and left London on 29 August under the command of Captain David Home, and with the company's bark, Columbia, built at the same time and commanded by Captain Darby. Beaver was outfitted as a brig for the passage out, paddles unshipped, and came out via Cape Horn under sail alone. After calling at Juan Fernandez and Honolulu, she arrived off the Columbia River on 18 March 1836 and anchored off Fort Vancouver on 10 April. Here the paddles were shipped and boilers and engines connected. Beaver was used to service trading posts maintained by the Hudson's Bay Company between the Columbia River and Russian America (Alaska) and played an important role in helping maintain British control in British Columbia during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858-59. She also provided assistance to the Royal Navy at Bute Inlet during the Chilcotin War. In 1862, Beaver was charted by the Royal Navy as Her Majesty’s Hired Survey Ship and spent seven years charting the coast of the Colony of British Columbia. She continued to serve the Hudson's Bay Company until 1874, when she was sold to serve as a freighter and towboat. In 1888, the Beaver ran aground on some rocks in the First Narrows of Vancouver Harbor, due to an inebriated crew, bringing to an end over 50 years of service by this pioneer steamship! Today, only a few relics of the Beaver remain - small fragments of the first steamship to operate on Canada’s northwest coast. Obverse A finely engraved and dynamic depiction of S.S. Beaver, sailing past the wharf under her own steam power. The steam from her smokestack is accented using laser technology. The date and denomination are also indicated. Reverse A frosted cameo portrait of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God") and mint mark also appear. Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Specifications Country Canada Year of Issue 2011 Face Value 200 Dollars Weight 16.00 g Diameter 29.00 mm Mintage Limit 2,800 Finish Proof Composition .9167 Fine (22-Karat) Gold alloyed with .0833 Fine Silver Edge Serrated (milled, reeded) Artist John Mardon Certificate Individually Numbered Copyright © 2024 Talisman World Coins and Medals. All Rights Reserved.

Price: 1599.95 USD

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri

End Time: 2024-11-17T07:38:33.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD