The Battle of Vimy Ridge - 1 oz. Pure Silver Selectively Gold-Plated Coin (2017)

Launched in the spring of 1917, the Battle of Arras in northern France was an attempt to break the bloody stalemate on the Western Front, where the Battle of the Somme had yielded few gains. One of the most important components to this Allied offensive was the capture of Vimy Ridge, a heavily fortified escarpment that provided sweeping views of the flat landscape below. The previous attempts to storm this enemy stronghold had failed—until those fateful four days in April 1917, when all four divisions of the Canadian Corps came together for the first time in history to fight as one in a methodically planned operation that became a defining moment for our nation.

Canada's soldiers emerged from the hard-fought battle as an offensive force to be reckoned with, and a surging sense of national identity—on the battlefield and at home. Nearly 3,600 Canadians were killed during the intense four-day operation, and 7,000 more wounded. Four Canadians earned the Victoria Cross for their actions at Vimy Ridge; as for Byng, the future Governor General of Canada was promoted to the Third British Army shortly after. In his place, 41-year-old Arthur Currie took up command of the Canadian Corps—the first Canadian to ever lead his nation's army in battle.

• UNIQUE WITHIN THE SERIES: Selective gold plating was also used on the soldier to place added emphasis on the legacy of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in Canadian history. Your entire coin design is a heartfelt ode to Canada's combatants, whose valour and sacrifice at Vimy Ridge contributed to a pivotal moment in our nation's history.
• COMMEMORATES THE KEY BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE: The courage and sacrifice of the "Byng Boys" secured a morale-boosting victory that remains a seminal moment in Canadian history.
• FIFTH COIN IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR: BATTLEFRONT SERIES: This collection commemorates key battles of the First World War that helped shape and define Canada as we know it today. 
• OUTSTANDING ATTENTION TO HISTORICAL ACCURACY: Your coin features the effigy of King George V by T. H. Paget in selective gold plating.
• RECREATES THE WINGED FIGURE OF "VICTORY" FROM THE VICTORY MEDAL: Patterned after a 19th century French medal, this bronze-lacquered copper medal was awarded in 1919 to all ranks of the Allied forces who served in the First World War.
• INCLUDES SERIALIZED CERTIFICATE: The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins. Most of these are serialized certifications, meaning that each certificate is given a unique number, starting at 1.
• ONE-OUNCE 99.99% PURE SILVER WITH SELECTIVE GOLD PLATING! Your coin has no GST/HST.

• German forces had seized the seven-kilometre ridge and surrounding territory in 1914. The French had unsuccessfully tried to recapture it in May 1915 and again in September 1915, at a cost of over 100,000 casualties.
• In preparation for the attack, sections of the enemy lines were reconstructed to give Canadians a sense of what they would encounter during the attack.
• The extensive network of tunnels was dug at least 10 metres beneath the ground, in order to preserve them from artillery fire. The longest tunnel was almost a kilometre long; some were equipped with rail transport, electric lighting and even running water.
• When the infantry moved out on the morning of April 9, 1917, they were well supported by nearly 1,000 artillery pieces, which made use of a new artillery fuse (the 106fuse) that allowed shells to explode on contact.
• During the attack, each Canadian soldier moved forward carrying up to 36 kilograms of equipment.
• For their valorous actions at Vimy, four Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross: Private William Milne, Lance-Sergeant Ellis Sifton, Captain Thain MacDowell and Private John Pattison.
• The commander of the Canadian Corps, Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng, was beloved by Canadian troops for his style of leadership. Raised to the peerage after the war, he was titled 1st Viscount of Vimy and was later appointed Governor General of Canada from 1921 to 1926.

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a graphic beauty box.

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