We were allies in the trenches and, for the first time, in the skies. Accented with a gold-plated infantry insignia, 2018 $20 Fine Silver Coin – First World War Allied Forces: France in our First World War Allies series 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”).

SPECIAL FEATURES

• A SPECIAL FOUR-COIN SERIES: As we approach of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of 11 November 1918, this series reflects  on  the  wartime  contributions  of  four  of  the  many Allied   forces   that   were  united   in   a   common   cause,   and bound by both heroism and duty.
• FOUR  ALLIES,  ONE  LAST PUSH:  While  Canadian  and  French forces  fought  in  the  trenches,  Canadian  airmen  also  served in  the  skies,  where  France’s  escadrilles  and  fighter  pilots were at the forefront of aircraft development.
• THE  IMAGE  OF  HOPE:  The  highly  detailed  reverse  presents the  view  from  the  front  lines,  in  a  time  when  the  novelty and  risks  of  flight  still  inspired  awe.  Multiple  finishes  add  a sense  of  depth  to  the  scene,  in  which  French  troops—and the viewer—look up to see French aircraft flying overhead.
• SELECTIVE   GOLD   PLATING:   Like   all   coins   in   this   limited series,  selective  gold  plating  highlights  the  infantry  insignia of the French Army, an emblem that speaks of sacrifice and victory in battle, such as the Battle of Verdun in 1916 and at Amiens in 1918.
• FOR   KING   AND   COUNTRY:   Selective   gold   plating   also highlights the effigy of King George V on the obverse, which resembles  that  of  all  Canadian  coins  issued  during  the  First World War.
• COLLECT   ALL   4   COINS   FOR   THE   COMPLETE   STORY!   A touching  memorial  to  all  the  combatants  —  one  that  goes beyond borders to put a face on the Great War.

DESIGN

The reverse image of 2018 $20 Fine Silver Coin – First World War Allied Forces: France 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 of 2018 $20 Fine Silver Coin – First World War Allied Forces: France features the effigy of King George V by Sir    E. B. MacKennal.