Canada: Centenary anniversary of Canadian National Railway Company celebrated on new gold coins

The Royal Canadian Mint has released new gold coins in time for the centenary anniversary of the country’s primary rail and freight service, The Canadian National Railways (or CN, as they usually referred to). Its locomotives were the driving engines of development, while its tracks are the ribbons of steel that are woven into the fabric of the nation. Since its incorporation on the 6th June 1919, CN has left its imprint on modern Canada. The freight trains of today are the continuation of a storied railway tradition which began in the Age of Steam, when CN’s network connected Canadians from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and supported the communities in between. From transportation to telecommunications, CN’s 100-year history is synonymous with a century of progress in Canada. The history of Canadian National Railways resulted from the nationalisation and amalgamation of four railway networks: The Grand Trunk Pacific, the Intercolonial, the Canadian Northern Railway, and the National Transcontinental Railway. Until the 1970s, its operations extended well beyond passenger and freight service. From telegraphs to steamships, radio and resorts, the former Crown Corporation kept Canadians connected over land, sea, and even air with the launch of the first national airline in 1937. CN gradually shifted its focus to freight services when the Company was wholly privatised in 1995. The largest rail network in Canada, today CN’s trains transport more than $280 billion worth of goods annually across tracks that span a continent, from east to west and south to the Gulf of Mexico. CN employs over 24,000 people, and, as of September 2018, had a market value of approximately $84 billion Canadian dollars.

The coin is designed by Tony Bianco and features a classic railway design on its reverse. The three different locomotives featured in the design are a tribute to a century of driving innovation, framed by the tracks that continue to be the backbone of Canada’s economy. The side-by-side view of the three Canadian National Railway engines that have powered progress in Canada during the last 100 years is prominently featured on the reverse in striking detail. On the far right is No. 6060, one of the last Mountain steam locomotives delivered to CN. Next is Locomotive 6400, a class U-4-a Confederation steam locomotive, and in the foreground, CN 2304 is a GE ES44DC model that represents today’s efficient diesel freight locomotives. Instead of the traditional denticles (or dots), train tracks encircle the rim and frame a stylised map that alludes to the railway’s impact across Canada. The reverse also includes the face value 200 DOLLARS, the commemorative dates 1919 and 2019, and CANADA.

The obverse features the effigy of HM Queen Elizabeth II created by Susanna Blunt and has been seen on all circulation and many commemorative coins since 2003.

Locomotive 6400: Built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1936, CN 6040 belongs to the class U-4-a Confederation steam locomotives that were used for passenger service until the mid-20th century. It famously carried King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during the Royal Visit in 1939, and it was a feature attraction at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. No. 6400 is currently on display at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa, Ontario.

Locomotive 6060: Built in 1944, No. 6060 was the first “Bullet Nose Betty” (U-1-f class) locomotive assembled by Montreal Locomotive Works. It was among the last of the 4-8-2 Mountain-type locomotives that had been the backbone of CN’s fleet since 1923. The late-era steam locomotive was primarily assigned to Canada-wide passenger runs and pulled the Royal Coach in 1951. Retired in 1959, CN 6060 was restored and then given as a gift to the people of Alberta, where it was sent off to Vancouver to take part in Expo 86.

Locomotive 2304: CN 2304 represents the highly efficient, technologically advanced freight locomotives of today. The DC-traction counterpart to the popular ES44AC, the six-axle ES44DC is rated at 4,400 horsepower. It is one of the Evolution Series (GEVO) of diesel locomotives that were first introduced in 2003 to meet modern emissions standards.

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
200 dollars	.9999 Gold	15.43 g	29  mm	Proof	1,000

Each coin is individually encapsulated and presented in a custom case along with a numbered certificate of authenticity. For additional information about these coins and others available from the Royal Canadian Mint, please visit their website.

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