2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the declaration of the First World War, a moment we honour not with pleasure, but with quiet reverence for the young people who faced, and in many instances did not survive, the intense dangers of the war. It is also a time to reflect on those who fought their own battles back at home, their lives likely filled with constant dread and worry.

The Design:

The illustration on the $1 fine silver coin by Halifax-based artist Bonnie Ross is an attempt to convey the atmosphere of that fateful day, when the first wave of volunteers boarded a train bound for Valcartier camp. A couple share a tender embrace which speaks volumes about the uncertainty that hangs over them like a cloud. The Royal Canadian Mint has immortalized in silver what would have otherwise been lost in time, a moment in which two lovers stand still as their world darkens and blurs around them. The proof set also contains a polar bear $2, a loon $1, a 50-cent, 25-cent, 10-cent and 5-cent piece. This collection is a unique way to honour the awesome sacrifice of this time, and to reflect on the poignant goodbyes that were exchanged on that fateful day.