We were allies in the trenches and, for the first time, in the skies. Accented with a gold-plated infantry insignia, this 2018 $20 fine silver First World War Allies series coin reflects on France’s enormous sacrifices and triumphs on the Western Front during the First World War, where, barely a decade after the first flight, aviation played an increasing role in La der des der (“The war to end all wars”). Mintage is limited to just 5,000. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse image by Pandora Young transports the viewer to the Western Front and in the trenches that defined the First World War. On the faces of the French soldiers (“les Poilus”), the expression is one of hope and wonder as they lift their gaze up to the sky, where their fellow countrymen have taken flight to battle for air superiority. While the setting is a stirring reminder of the French Army’s victories and sacrifices in battle, the aircraft of the Aéronautique Militaire also salutes the legacy of French aviators and engineers, who were at the forefront of progress as aviation evolved from novelty to military necessity. Selective gold plating highlights the infantry insignia of the French Army, represented by the flaming bomb bearing the letters “RF” (République Française). The selectively gold-plated obverse features the effigy of King George V by Sir E. B. MacKennal.
