- Country:Canada
- Collection:Silver Commemorative $20
- Metal:Silver
- Year:2017
- Denomination:$20
- Finish:Complete
- Weight (oz):1.009
- Purity:0.9999
- Mintage:7500
- Product type:Coin
Today's passenger rail service must compete with aircraft and automobiles, but the nation's goods and commodities continue to travel along the railways that have shaped much of our history since 1867. Nearly a century after the arrival of the first diesel-electric engine, Canada's rail industry is once again undergoing change that is reflected in part by the popularity of the more modern, fuel-efficient General Electric ES44AC.
All aboard! An ideal gift for any train enthusiast! Order today!
Special features:
THIRD IN SERIES!Third and final in a breathtaking series of three coins thatexplore Canada's history through some ofits most iconic locomotives! Previous coins in series include:
Coin 1: The 4-4-0 locomotive
Coin 2: The RS-20 locomotive
SELECTIVE GOLD PLATING! The selective application of gold plating places the focus on the GE ES44AC.
GOLD-PLATED RIM! As an added touchto make your coin more special, the rim of your coin is also gold plated!
AVAILABLE AS A 3-COIN SUBSCRIPTION! To receive all three coins, order the subscription and receive a FREE embossed metal tin box to display all three coins!
LIMITED MINTAGE: Only 7,500 coins will be made available worldwide. Hurry and order yours today before they are all gone!
ONE-OUNCE 99.99% PURE SILVER COIN!Your coin has no GST/HST!
Did you knowÃ
While VIA Rail provides nationwide passenger service, Canada's two transcontinental freight railways systems-Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP)-continue to be important carriers of bulk commodities such as grain, coal and other goods. Both operate ES44AC units.
Why the name "ES44AC"? "ES" stands for "Evolution Series," "44" refers to its horsepower rating (4,400 hp), and "AC"indicates AC traction.
The first prototype was built in 2002.
Among CP Railway's ES44AC units, those numbered 8858-8877 were easy to spot since they bore the logos of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver,BC.
The latest units, the Tier 4 ES44ACs, are designed to meet the most stringent emissions standards inNorth America.
Design:
In keeping with the first two coins in the series, this reverse design by Canadian artist John Mantha featuresselective gold plating that shines the spotlight on the General Electric ES44AC locomotive. The background features an outstanding amount of engraved detail that captures the majesty of Canada's diverse landscape: from the far-off mountain peak to the different textures of the surrounding vegetation, down to the gravel along the railroad ties. The shine of the coin's silver surface also lends itself well to evoking the brightness of a summer day-in the sky, and on the surface of the winding river beneath it. Rounding the curves in the track, the gold-plated ES44AC locomotive is positionedin a way that allows for an ideal view of its front and side. The remarkable power of this fuel-efficient locomotive is evident in an almost endless lineof railcars that stretch out behind it.
