New $20 Silver Proof Coins Celebrate the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Centenary Anniversary

This year, Canada remembers the history and establishment of the Royal Canadian Air Force and its legacy during their centennial anniversary. Since its creation in 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force – RCAF has evolved into a national institution, one that has played a pivotal role in Canada’s history and in the skies above. Prior to the formation of the RCAF, its predecessor, the Canadian Air Force was granted permission to use the British Royal Air Force’s Blue Ensign in 1921, which was extended to the RCAF upon its formation on the 1st April 1924. Since 1946, RCAF aircraft have been marked with a distinctly Canadian design that depicts the RCAF Roundel featuring a red maple leaf. Building on the foundations laid by Canadian pilots in the First World War, the fledgling RCAF first distinguished itself through its civil air operations, pioneering the use of aircraft for fighting forest fires and contributing to the mapping of Canada. It was during the Second World War when Canada’s Air Force stepped onto the world’s stage and the RCAF quickly made a name for this branch of the military at home and abroad, propelled forward by the war and peacetime contributions of its members. Whether participating in air defence, Arctic patrols, NATO training, humanitarian flights, natural disaster relief, peacekeeping operations or search-and-rescue efforts or even providing back-up support to the Canadian Armed Forces, Canada’s Air Force continues to defend the country’s air space, saving lives, helping people at home and abroad, and serving Canada.

The reverse side of this new $20 silver proof coin is designed by artist David Moore whose work features three different eras of RCAF aircraft history. Backed by angular shapes conveying speed and motion, two of the aircraft poignantly represents the RCAF’s past. Shown on the left, the Camel was flown as a fighter aircraft in the First World War and as an advanced combat trainer with the RCAF until 1929. Shown on the right is the Spitfire fighter flown in combat by RCAF squadrons overseas in the Second World War. The F-35 Lightning II, the inspiration for the lightning bolt in the background is prominently featured in the foreground, where the stealth fighter represents the RCAF’s future fleet. The RCAF motto SIC ITUR AD ASTRA (Such is the pathway to the stars) is positioned along the top right rim, while the RCAF roundel is centred at the bottom. The anniversary years 1924 and 2024 are placed to the right of the roundel. The obverse side includes the effigy of HM King Charles III which is the work of Canadian artist Steven Rosati. The King facing to the left surrounded by the legend CHARLES III D G REX with the coin’s denomination 20 DOLLARS placed below the King’s likeness.  

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a branded Royal Canadian mint custom case accompanied with a numbered certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit the online webshop of the Royal Canadian Mint.