Composition : 99,99% argent
Mintage : 18,476

Guardian ofthe light - A tribute to Sambro, North America's oldest operating lighthouse

Under a veil of fog or darkness, a ship inches forward utterly blind. Without light, oly fate can guide her.

From the moment Halifax was founded as the major base for the British Navy in 1749, this was the terrifying danger that ships had to face as theyventured into its port. The entrance was often covered with fog and more than 30 shoals lay in wait.

It took nine years to raise thefunds and plan the construction of a lighthouse. At 18.3m (60ft.) with a fixed oil lamp burning at 35.1m (115ft.) above sea level, it was asmall match for port conditions, but over the 200 years, innovatons would steadily improve its performance.

The most visible modification for casual observers is likely the huge First Order Fresnel lensthat was installed in 1906 but now stands at the entrance to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic as a marvel in optics. It guided ships for62 years until a 91.4cm (36in.) aiport beacon was installed in 1966.

Today, the tower is 25m (82ft.) high. Its stonework is covered with wood shingles to guard against the ravages of the salt. With the original granite walls of 1758 still visible inside, Sambro lighthouseshines as the oldest lighthouse in North America.

This coin isthe first issue of the Lighthouse collection.
The first coin of the series, released in 2004, depicts the Sambro island lighthouse.
The second coin of the series, released in 2005, depicts the Toronto island lighthouse.

CANADIAN LIGHTHOUSES - SAMBRO ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE - 2004 CANADIAN COINS 01 is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 13- CANADIAN HISTORY and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.