2023 Canada $100 Kathleen "Kit" Coleman; Pioneer Journalist Pure Gold (No Tax)

Through her weekly columns, journalist Kathleen Blake Coleman (1856-1915) pushed the boundaries of expectation for women in journalism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “Kit” was a woman of many firsts: she made history 125 years ago by becoming North America’s first accredited woman war correspondent; she helped establish the Canadian Women’s Press Club and served as its first president; and later, she became the first syndicated woman columnist in Canada. 

A pioneer deserving of her place on the 2023 Proof Dollar, Kit Coleman is also honoured on this 99.99% pure gold coin, which pairs a portrait of the trailblazing columnist with a map that traces her incredible journey.

She was born Catherine Ferguson in 1856, in County Galway, Ireland, but identified herself privately as Kathleen Willis when she first came to Canada in 1884. She adopted the middle name Blake and by the time she began publishing, she was formally known as Kathleen Blake Watkins, and as Kathleen Blake Coleman when she later remarried.

Her pen name “Kit” and her public persona had readers guessing both her identity and gender. In her column, Coleman covered a wide range of topics in an attempt to break free from gender-based restrictions imposed upon the few presswomen of that era.

Kit first joined the Toronto Daily Mail as a women’s editor in 1889 in order to support herself and her two young children. Her weekly, seven-column “Woman’s Kingdom” page featured a mix of observations and advice, thought-provoking articles and travel writings. Coleman was known to go undercover in other cities, such as London and San Francisco, in order to write about social issues and the plight of the poor.

In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Coleman became North America’s first accredited woman war correspondent. While she was authorized to accompany American troops in Cuba, her male colleagues and the army commanders on the ground were opposed to the idea of having a woman in their midst, and they prevented her travel. Stranded in Florida, she eventually landed in Cuba in July 1898; while she had missed the main battles, her accounts of the war’s aftermath made her internationally famous.

Designed by Canadian artist Pandora Young, your coin’s reverse features a portrait of Toronto-based journalist Kathleen “Kit” Blake Coleman (1856-1915) penning her weekly column. The map in the background traces the trailblazing reporter’s incredible journey—from her birthplace in Ireland to her life and career in Canada, and her travels as North America’s first accredited woman war correspondent. The obverse features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. The obverse also bears a special marking that includes four pearls symbolizing the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins and the double date of her reign.

Specifications:
Item Number: 205830
Mintage: 1,500
Composition: 99.99% pure gold
Weight: 7.8 g
Diameter: 20 mm
Face Value: $100
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Pandora Young (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Special Features:
• A journalism pioneer! One of Canada’s most successful early presswomen and a woman of many firsts, journalist Kathleen “Kit” Blake Coleman is honoured on several coins issued in 2023, which marks the 125th anniversary of her becoming North America’s first accredited woman war correspondent.
• A pure gold portrait! A perfect complement to this year’s Fine Silver Proof Dollar! Both coins were designed by the same artist, and the gold coin zooms in on the portrait portion of the collage featured on the Proof Dollar’s reverse.
• Richly detailed! Crafted in 99.99% pure gold, your coin’s reverse features an outstanding amount of finely engraved details, and it captures both the likeness and legacy of Kit Coleman.
• Pencil to paper to precious metal! The Toronto-based journalist is shown penning her weekly newspaper column, while behind her, the map traces her incredible journey—from her birthplace in Ireland to her life and career in Canada, and her many travels abroad.
• Very Low Mintage! Just 1,500 coins are available to collectors worldwide.

Packaging:
The coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.