This 2022 fine silver $50 coin captures a haunting perspective of one of the most intriguing and elusive ships ever seen in Canadian waters. For more than 200 years, there have been reports of an eerie apparition in Chaleur Bay and in the Northumberland Strait. Some describe a glowing ball of fire; others have seen a manned, three-masted ship with sails all aflame. Those who have attempted a rescue remember approaching the glowing vessel, only for the ship to suddenly vanish without a trace… Mintage is limited to just 1,500 coins. HST/GST exempt.

The Design:

The folklore comes to life on this coin as two local sailors push a dory into the rough surf. They are attempting a rescue just as the storm rolls in, but the ghost ship is only visible when the scene is viewed under the included black light. With Colour Reveal technology, a three-masted ship appears on the horizon and seems to be ablaze from bow to stern… but is it real or is it an illusion? Is the ship doomed to haunt our eastern waters forever?

Did You Know?

Some have theorized that the apparition is St. Elmo’s Fire, a phenomenon in which electricity discharged from the atmosphere presents itself as glowing light on tall, sharply pointed structures—like a ship’s mast. Others think it could be caused by a phosphorus discharge from the depths of Chaleur Bay, like the “will o’ the wisp” phenomenon, where a flame-like glow is seen at night in marshes and swampy areas. But the most popular and fun theory remains that there is truly a ghost ship which heralds in storms off the Gulf of St. Lawrence.