Get a glimpse of the creative process behind the 1939 silver dollar.

Another Mint first! We’re simultaneously honouring history and making history with this innovative thin 5 oz. coin, which brings you an engraved representation of Emanuel Hahn’s original sketch of the 1939 silver dollar. Working off the hand-drawn mock-up preserved in the National Currency Collection of the Bank of Canada, engravers have painstakingly re-created Hahn’s preliminary “Parliament” art concept for the commemoration of the royal visit of King George VI—whose effigy appears on the obverse—and Queen Elizabeth. Every pencil mark, and even the fold lines of the original paper document, are etched upon your coin’s reverse, where the relief—struck incuse for that hand-drawn look—honours both the artist and the artwork that holds historical significance.

Drawn by Hahn: Enjoy an “early” view of the 1939 silver dollar.

Good to know

A Mint first. This is the first thin 5 oz. coin. Struck on an innovative coin blank, this thinner coin contains 5 oz. of 99.99% pure silver but features a 50% larger diameter than a standard 5 oz. coin, and provides more room for the art.

A Hahn original. This is a rare opportunity for collectors to own an engraved representation of an original drawing by Emanuel Hahn. It reflects the artist’s vision for the 1939 silver dollar—an important piece in Canadian numismatic history.

Incuse lines. Instead of raised relief, the design was struck incuse to capture the look of a pencil drawing. Every pencil mark, the lines around the lettering, and even the paper fold lines from the archived art have been painstakingly re-created on this extraordinary collectible.

Historical effigy. The effigy of King George VI on the obverse ties in with the 1939-dated reverse.

Honouring Hahn. Artist, sculptor, coin designer—Emanuel Hahn left an indelible mark on Canada’s coins, and his Bluenose (10 cents) and caribou (25 cents) designs still grace our circulation coins today.

Includes art card. Each coin is accompanied by an art card featuring a reproduction of the original drawing by Hahn.

Includes serialized certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.

No GST/HST.

Did you know?

Issued in honour of the royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth—the first visit by a reigning monarch of Canada—the 1939 silver dollar was the second commemorative silver dollar issued by Canada and designed by Emanuel Hahn. His iconic Voyageur design made its debut on the first one: the 1935 silver dollar commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

Behind closed doors

"It’s always a thrill to see a piece of numismatic history come alive on a coin, especially when its design offers rare insight into the artist’s original vision for a now-iconic piece. We’ve effectively turned back time on both sides of the coin to transport the viewer to 1939, but we’re also making history with this thin 5 oz. coin, which is the first to feature engraved relief that isn’t raised—those lines are intentionally struck incuse and precisely rendered to mimic the sketching style of the renowned artist/sculptor/coin designer."

– Melanie Luis, Product Manager

"Beyond the coins in our pockets, Emanuel Hahn’s legacy in numismatics has forever been preserved through the transfer of his portfolio of original coin sketches to the National Currency Collection of the Bank of Canada in 1963. Having examined Mr. Hahn’s designs, and comparing them to the actual coins, I was most impressed to see the attention to detail in his pencil sketch of Centre Block of Parliament in Ottawa, Canada for the reverse of the 1939 commemorative dollar. It is a work of art, a feat of expert draftsmanship, and is a befitting theme for the Royal Canadian Mint’s first attempt at a new process of coin design and production. The etching on a large silver planchet with antique finish really captures Hahn’s craft."

– David Bergeron, Curator, Bank of Canada Museum

"This coin is a unique inversion of how we, as engravers, would approach artwork. Usually, engraving is about the translation of a two-dimensional piece of artwork into a three-dimensional form, while adding nuance and detail to turn that concept into a physical object. With this coin, we wanted to feature the original artwork itself, as both a representation of the artistic process and also a look behind the scenes of the first stages of coin making. The sculpting approach was to treat every line as if it were made by a pencil: instead of being raised, they act as an imprint on the coin surface, where the aim is to celebrate the subtleties of notation, drafting, editing and, most importantly, mark making."

– Steven Stewart, 3D Artist/Engraver

About the design

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box, along with an art card featuring a reproduction of the original sketch.

Reverse: Original sketch by Emanuel Hahn

Your coin’s reverse is an engraved representation of an early pencil sketch of the 1939 silver dollar designed by artist Emanuel Hahn (1881-1957). Marked by the paper fold lines of the original sketch residing in the National Currency Collection of the Bank of Canada, the reverse design is a partially completed depiction of the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, along with perspective lines and other preliminary graphic elements hand-drawn by the artist, including the Roman-style lettering for the Latin legend “FIDE SVORVM REGNAT” (“He reigns by the faith of his people”).

Obverse: George VI

The obverse features the historical effigy of George VI by Thomas Humphrey Paget.

Product # 246024

2024 $1 Pure Silver Coin - Emanuel Hahn’s Original Sketch: Parliament