Canadian Highway of Heroes Silver Commemorative Coin
The 2011 Highway of Heroes Silver Commemorative Coin has been struck and issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. This commemorative coin celebrates the Highway of Heroes, which honors fallen Canadian servicewomen and servicemen.
This beautiful commemorative coin is struck in .999 pure silver, and a denomination of C$10. The Royal Canadian Mint has placed a limit of 25,000 coins maximum on the mintage. The price of this coin is $69.95. For every coin sold, $20 will be sent to the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial and the Military Families Fund. As of this date they have raised over $100,000 for those charities.
The image on the reverse of this silver commemorative coin was designed by engraver Stan Witten, with the collaboration of Major Carl Gauthier. The design shows the grassroots movement, which started in 2002, in order to honor Canada's fallen soldiers from the war in Afghanistan.
Thousands of Canadians gathered at the overpasses of a section of Highway 401 to pay their respects to the individuals and families of those fallen soldiers whose bodies were being taken from the Canadian Forces Base Trenton to Toronto Ontario. The reverse image on the coin shows one of the overpasses of Highway 401, and the crowds that gathered there to pay their respects. Canadian flags are draped over the sides of the overpass, and a large maple leaf is set in the background. A memorial cross sits of the upper left-hand corner of the image, with the denomination, and 2011 year of issue surrounding the outer portions of the top of the coin.
The Highway of Heroes Silver Commemorative coins weigh 15.87 g. The obverse side of the coin features an attractive image of Queen Elizabeth II, which was designed by Susanna Blunt.
These coins are currently available from the Royal Canadian Mint.