The Red Knight’s aerobatic performance is on display once more. Before the Snowbirds, there was the Red Knight. From 1958 until 1969, the Red Knight delighted spectators across Canada and the United States with awe-inspiring aerobatic displays. The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) solo jet-aerobatic performer was equipped with the T-33 Silver Star (or “T-Bird”, CT-133) and later, the CT-114 Tutor, which were decked out in a bright colour scheme, iconic red. These aircraft, along with the distinctive knight’s helmet emblem they bore, have been colourfully recreated on this 99.99% pure silver tribute to the legendary (and much loved) Red Knight, whose show-stopping manoeuvres inspired a generation of air enthusiasts and enriched Canada’s aviation heritage. Celebrate the Red Knight’s storied history. A salute to the Red Knight. This coin pays tribute to the Red Knight’s legacy, and to its outstanding contribution to the RCAF and Canadian aviation history. Our first Red Knight coin. The stories of Canadian aerobatic display teams-including the Snowbirds and Golden Hawks featured on previous coins-are connected to one another. This coin shines the spotlight on the Red Knight, which has never been depicted on a Canadian coin. Until now! A mix of frostings. The colour-over-engraved elements make a vivid impression on your coin’s reverse, where they’re set against the maple leaf backdrop and surrounded by a mirror finish. For an extra touch of drama, a more matte frosting sets the Red Knight’s white smoke trails apart! Why are two planes featured on this tribute to the RCAF’s solo performer? The aircraft on your coin’s reverse represent the two aircraft types that each served as the mount of the Red Knight: the T-33 from 1958 to 1968, and the Tutor in 1968 and 1969. The maple leaf backdrop is also historic: it is based on the pre-1965 RCAF Roundel, which can be seen on the T-33’s fuselage and wings in this design. If you missed out on our 2021 Snowbirds and Avro Arrow coins, or if you’re looking for another aviation-themed piece to include in your collection, this is the coin to get in 2022! But mintage is limited to just 6,500 coins, so don’t wait-order today! The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins. Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box. The Red Knight’s bright paint scheme and markings made it easy to spot, and its distinctive red colour has been recreated on this selectively coloured coin which has been crafted in 2 oz. Of 99.99% fine silver. Includes Red Knight emblem. The emblem of the Red Knight is also featured on this coin! The Red Knight’s helmet with golden plume was displayed on the aircraft’s nose from 1961 to 1969. The emblem is also subtly laser-engraved on your coin’s obverse, where this repeating element catches the light when the coin is tipped. 99.99% pure silver with selective colour. Black clamshell with black beauty box. David Oram (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse). Four T-33 aircraft were part of the Red Knight program from 1958 to 1968. One of them, RCAF serial 21574 (1961 to 1964), is on display at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, where you can get a close view of its day-glo red paint scheme and the Red Knight emblem on its nose-that emblem also appears on this coin! Another of the original Red Knights, serial 21630, is on display in Saskatoon and there are several other tributes to the Red Knight across Canada. The last remaining Tutor to have served as the Red Knight, RCAF serial 26153, is now on display in its original Golden Centennaires colours at the CFB Borden Museum. A few variations on the standard Red Knight colour scheme were introduced through the years-for example, the Tutor was painted vermillion red (instead of the original day-glo red) and had a white line that stretched from nose to tail. As for the Red Knight insignia, it started out as a black silhouette of a knight’s helmet in 1959; the more colourful version, the one reproduced on your coin’s reverse, was introduced in 1961 and served as the emblem for the remainder of the Red Knight program. The CT-114 Tutor is the same aircraft type that is currently used by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, 431 Air Demonstration Squadron. The Red Knight was among the 2020 inductees to Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame (CAHF) as the recipient of the Belt of Orion Award for Excellence, a well-deserved honour. Your coin’s reverse was designed by artist David Oram and pays tribute to the Red Knight, the Royal Canadian Air Force Training Command’s famous aerobatic performer from 1958 to 1969. Historical liaison was provided by authors J. To represent that timespan, the Canadair-built T-33 Silver Star is shown performing a manoeuvre alongside its eventual replacement, the Canadair-designed and built CT-114 Tutor (background). Accompanied by the red, gold and white Red Knight emblem, both aircraft are painted in their distinctive red colour schemes of the 1960s and set against the RCAF Roundel’s (pre-1965) maple leaf. The obverse features the repeating laser-engraved Red Knight emblem and the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Coins: Canada\Commemorative”. The seller is “ha2117″ and is located in this country: CA. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Circulated/Uncirculated: Uncirculated
- Type: Commemorative
- Year: 2022
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Canada
- Certification: RCM COA