2018 $20 Canada's Historical Stamps - Parliament Building 1927 Confederation (No Tax)

2018 $20 Canada's Historical Stamps - Parliament Building 1927 Confederation Fine Silver Coin (No Tax)

Canada's postal past is lined with philatelic gems that are a pictorial journey through time! The Royal Canadian Mint's Canada's Historical Stamps series is a numismatic tribute to early 20th century stamp designs, with colourful reproductions engraved within the “perforated” edges that transform this rectangular coin into a stamp-shaped one.

The centerpiece of our nation's parliamentary tradition, the Peace Tower, made its first appearance on a Canadian stamp on June 29, 1927 when a series of five commemorative stamps were issued to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation. Your coin's design features a reproduction of the three-cent stamp from that series, the aptly titled Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings. Designed by Herman Herbert Schwartz and originally engraved by Harold Osborn, the brown carmine-coloured stamp was issued by Canada's Post Office Department—known today as Canada Post—with a total of 15,431,000 printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company, which still prints Canada's stamps today.

Engraved on the stamp-shaped reverse is a detailed reproduction of a Canadian postal stamp issued on June 29, 1927, to commemorate Canada's Diamond Jubilee. Titled Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, the original design by Herman Herbert Schwartz and engraved by Harold Osborn, features a front view of the Peace Tower and Centre Block building on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa. The three-cent stamp was printed using the traditional intaglio printing or line engraving method, as evidenced by the horizontal lines re-created on the reverse. An application of modern colour mimics the brown carmine hue of the original issue, while the double dates "1867" and "1927" and the word "CONFEDERATION" reflect the 60th anniversary of Confederation. Like the 1927 stamp, the reverse includes ornamental flourishes and the word "CANADA" on a scroll banner, along with the bilingual "POSTES / POST" and the face value, represented by the number "3" and the word "CENTS". The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Specifications:
Item Number: 168022
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Mintage: 5,000
Weight*: 31.86 g
Diameter: 51 mm x 30 mm
Face Value: $20
Finish: Proof
Artist: Herman Herbert Schwartz (stamp designer), Harold Osborn (original stamp engraver); Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Special Features:
• Canada's first stamp-shaped coin. With serrated edges that mimic a postal stamp's perforations, this fine silver coin is a numismatic celebration of Canada's postal and philatelic history, with a special focus on early 20th century stamp designs.
• The classic look of a bygone era. This FIRST coin in a limited series travels back in time to 1927 to reproduce a stamp issued for Canada's Diamond Jubilee.
• Faithful reproduction. The engraved reproduction of the 1927 stamp is just as detailed as the original — complete with horizontal lines that were the product of intaglio printing, or line engraving, one of the oldest methods of stamp production.
• Vintage colours. The addition of colour over engraving completes this reproduction of the original brown carmine- coloured stamp.
• Forever preserved in 99.99% pure silver, this collectible is the perfect gift for philatelists and numismatists alike.

Packaging:
Maroon clamshell with black beauty box.