2011 Canada 1911 100Th Anniversary Special Edition Proof Silver Dollar

Every detail of its original design has been preserved and adapted to mark the anniversary. A double date (1911-2011) has been added to highlight its centennial year

Inspired by the 1911 silver dollar originally designed byW.H.J. Blakemore. The obverse features the effigy of King George V originally designed by Sir E. B. MacKennal.

When the Mint began striking coins in 1908 (then known as the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint), a one-dollar coin had not yet entered circulation, but was desperately needed; so in 1911, the Mint struck a trial one dollar coin in lead, while London’s Royal Mint struck two trial coins in silver.
Since Britain was responsible for preparing and distributing most of the master tooling to its Dominions and colonies, the engravers were under great pressure as they were already busy preparing new coins to coincide with the coronation of King George V. In their haste, they failed to include “Dei Gra(tia)”, (“By the Grace of God,” in Latin) on the inscription surrounding the effigy—an unfortunate omission that appeared on all smaller denomination coins that entered circulation and became known as “godless coins.”

A series of exceptional events delayed the introduction of the new dollar. And it was not until 1935 that a silver dollar—the iconic Voyageur design—was introduced to elevate the original dollar of 1911 to the status of one of Canada’s rarest coins