20 Dollars - Elizabeth II (Shag Harbour Incident)
Obverse
Head of Queen Elizabeth II, as at 77 years of age, bare headed, wearing necklace and earrings, facing right.
Lettering: 2019 ELIZABETH II D·G·REGINA 20 DOLLARS
Reverse
A rendering of the Shag Harbour UFO incident. Black light-activated elements highlight a mysterious craft and the glowing lights sighted along the southern coast of Nova Scotia on October 4, 1967
Lettering: CANADA PY
Basic Information
Category
Coin
Ruler
Elizabeth II (Wikidata)
Technique
Milled, Coloured
Orientation
medal
Demonetization
No
Face Value
20 Dollars (Numeric: 20)
Series
Canada's Unexplained Phenomena
Engravers
Obverse
Susan Taylor
Physical Characteristics
Composition
Silver (.9999)
Weight
31.56 g
Size
49.8 mm
Shape
Rectangular
Technical Details
Obverse Lettering
2019 ELIZABETH II D·G·REGINA 20 DOLLARS
Reverse Lettering
CANADA PY
Comments
Our second UFO-themed piece revisits an event witnessed by many in 1967. The vertical motif shows the four mysterious lights of the craft crashing off Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia, in a scene that evokes wonder. The piece is accompanied by a black-light flashlight that reveals the pattern's photoluminescent elements, which add a paranormal touch to this true story!
"This piece draws attention to a largely unknown story. The Shag Harbour incident is one of the government's best-documented UFO crashes; even today, the case remains open and unresolved." Laurie Wickens, witness and president of the Shag Harbour Incident Society
Special features
CANADA'S BEST-DOCUMENTED UFO CRASH! This piece revisits an event that triggered a government investigation in 1967 - the same year as the Falcon Lake incident, which we immortalized in 2018.
THE SECOND PIECE IN A REMARKABLE SERIES! To represent the theme of the second program in the Mysteries on Canadian Soil series - the crash of a UFO off our East Coast - we opted for a higher-than-usual canvas: a rectangular wafer struck in 1 oz of fine silver.
A GLOW ACTIVATED BY BLACK LIGHT! The piece is accompanied by a black-light flashlight that reveals the pattern's photoluminescent elements, which add a paranormal touch to our colorful depiction of the mysterious device and the four enigmatic lights seen in the sky.
ONE OUNCE OF 99.99% PURE SILVER! Distinguished by its original theme and luminous motif, this precious object is sure to fuel conversation and add to the appeal of any collection!
NUMBERED CERTIFICATE! The Royal Canadian Mint certifies the authenticity of all its collector coins, whether or not they are presented in special packaging.
A SMALL PRINT RUN! With only 4,000 produced worldwide, this exclusive work of art will be highly coveted by collectors, so don't delay!
The story
At first, no one was talking about a UFO. Laurie Wickens, then aged 18, spotted the lights while driving with friends. According to him, the craft was around twenty meters in diameter. When it crashed into the sea, a ball of light and a rumbling sound led some witnesses to believe they had just witnessed a plane crash.
Three RCMP officers, including one who had also seen the lights, went to the scene, where they saw the strange object glowing in the water, less than a kilometer from shore. They contacted the Halifax Rescue Coordination Centre to find out if an aircraft was missing, which was not the case. The Coast Guard and army also arrived on the scene, but too late: the lights had gone, and all that remained was a glistening yellow foam on the surface of the water.
The search for the aircraft continued into the early hours of the morning, but no debris was recovered. Royal Canadian Navy divers also searched the seabed until the investigation was terminated on October 9.
What could have crashed into the water? A top-secret aircraft? A spaceship from another planet? According to official documents, the authorities had no rational explanation. The Shag Harbour incident remains a mystery, and one of the best-documented UFO sightings ever.
Did you know?
It was airline pilots who first spotted the mysterious lights in the dark sky on October 4, 1967, as they approached Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. People also reported the same thing in Halifax.
Seven witnesses (including Laurie Wickens) reported to the RCMP that they had seen strange flashing lights or a possible plane crash. In fact, it was the authorities, not the witnesses, who first reported the sighting.
Established in 2006, the Shag Harbour Incident Society is dedicated to recounting the events of 1967. At its Interpretation Centre in this Nova Scotia town, it has a permanent display of articles, memorabilia and videos relating to this unexplained sighting.
Packaging
The coin is encapsulated and presented in a double-shell case featuring the Royal Canadian Mint logo. The case comes with a black protective box.