- Country:Canada
- Collection:Silver Commemorative $1
- Metal:Silver
- Year:2013
- Denomination:$1
- Finish:Complete
- Weight (oz):0.739
- Purity:0.9999
- Mintage:6858
- Product type:Coin
The Herculean trials of war. This 1-dollar coin is a near exact reproduction of the original Korea Medal that was awarded to all Commonwealth forces at the end of the war. The word "CANADA" was engraved on the medal's obverse in order to distinguish it from those medals awarded to Canadian military personnel. The 2013 issue date and a one dollar denomination have been added to transform the design from medal into a coin. In adapting the Korea Medal for this coin, Royal Canadian Mint engravers faithfully preserved Edward Carter Preston's original design of Hercules, the idealized warrior from Roman mythology, slaying the indomitable hydra-headed monster as an allegory for the perilous struggles of war, and a tribute to those who freely go to battle. In addition, the original engraving of "KOREA" has been expanded to include "COR E" in order to reflect Canada's official status as a bilingual nation. The obverse also features the same effigy that appeared on the original medal; the 1953 portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Mary Gillick, which was also in use on Canadian coins in this time period.
On July 27, 1953, officials signed the armistice agreement that brought combat in Korea to an end. The three-year conflict had begun just five years after the Second World War, and although much of the world was still struggling to recover from that global conflict, many nations came to the aid of the beleaguered Koreans.
Korea had been under Japanese colonial rule for more than three decades. When the Second World War came to an end and Japan surrendered, Allied military forces moved into the peninsula to ensure that Korea "shall become free and independent" in due course.
Despite the stated intent to create a unified and independent Korea, between 1945 and 1950 the peninsula became deeply divided along the 38th parallel. However, as the Cold War between these two nations intensified around the world, so did tensions in Korea.
The war began when North Koreans, armed and supplied in part by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. The unprepared South Korean government turned to the United States which appealed to the United Nations (UN) for assistance. The UN responded by passing a Security Council resolution on June 25, 1950, the day of the invasion, and issued a second one two days later to request the military support of UN member nations.
Face Value: 1 dollar
Mintage: 10,000
Composition: 99.99% fine silver
Weight (g): 23.17
Diameter (mm): 36.07
Edge: Serrated
Finish: Proof
Certificate: Serialized
Artist: Original medal by Edward Carter Preston
