2019 $20 FINE SILVER COIN
CANADA'S HISTORICAL STAMPS: ARRIVAL OF CARTIER – QUÉBEC 1535

2nd coin of the series Canada's Historical Stamps (2018).

In 1908, the Post Office Department of Canada commemorated the 300th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City with a special issue: the Tercentenary Series of Postal Stamps. The Royal Canadian Mint’s tribute to Canada’s postal heritage continues with a reproduction of the 20-cent stamp from that series, complete with colour and “perforated” edges.

Engraved on the stamp-shaped reverse is a detailed reproduction of a Canadian postage stamp issued on July 16, 1908, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City by French explorer and navigator, Samuel de Champlain. The stamp was titled “ARRIVÉE DE CARTIER – QUÉBEC 1535” (Arrival of Cartier – Quebec 1535), as inscribed beneath the image. It was designed by José Antonio Machado and originally engraved by Elie Timothée Loizeaux, as evidenced by the horizontal lines that are indicative of traditional intaglio printing or line engraving. The image depicts the arrival of Champlain’s predecessor, French explorer Jacques Cartier, in the St. Lawrence River near the Iroquoian village of Stadacona. An application of modern colour mimics the brown colour of the original issue, while the double dates “1608” and “1908” and the words “IIIE CENTENAIRE DE QUÉBEC” reflect the city’s tercentenary. Like the 1908 stamp, the reverse also includes ornamental flourishes and the words “CANADA POSTAGE” atop the framed image, while the stamp’s original denomination is represented by the number “20”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

© Canada Post Corporation. Used under license.

CANADA'S HISTORICAL STAMPS (2018) - ARRIVAL OF CARTIER - QUÉBEC 1535 - 2019 CANADIAN COINS 02 is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 13- CANADIAN HISTORY and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.