Description

A piece to mark the centennial of a rodeo celebration of peace

It was a rodeo salute to returning soldiers, and a celebration of victory done Calgary style.

From August 25 to 30, 1919, more than 57,000 people attended the Victory Stampede held at Calgary?s Exhibition Grounds. Those in attendance witnessed thrills and spills as hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls competed in events like bronc riding, fancy roping, trick riding, relay races and more.

The Victory Stampede celebrated the end of four long years of war and victory in Europe.. Despite being a one-off event, the ?Great Victory Entertainment? planted the seeds for the 1923 western showcase that kicked off an annual tradition in ?Stampede City.?

Ride back in time with our centennial commemoration of the 1919 Victory Stampede. This coin is a selectively gold-plated tribute to the cowboy contests of yesteryear, with a design that reflects history in every engraved detail?from the original Stampede grandstand to the lariat that ropes in the reverse.

KEY SPECIAL FEATURES:

A western-themed centennial. A 1 oz.-sized celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Victory Stampede, which was held to commemorate the end of the First World War.

Gold plating to contrast with the silver. Gold plating highlights select design elements on the reverse and obverse.

A rope rim. All the engraved details on the reverse are roped in by the gold-plated rim, which resembles the four-strand lariat used to rope livestock in 1919.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Historical authenticity. From the saddle to the cowboy?s spurs, each design element has been carefully researched to reflect Stampede history.

Complex design. Finely engraved details hint at the excitement of the fast-moving competition.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Victory Stampede was the second Stampede held in Calgary. Despite the initial success of the 1912 Stampede, it didn?t become an annual affair until 1923. In 1913, promoter Guy Weadick brought the Stampede to Winnipeg, then moved it overseas and in the United States during the First World War. But in 1919, four Calgary businessmen (the Big Four) invited Weadick back to Calgary to organize an event that commemorated the end of the First World War: the Victory Stampede.

The 1919 Stampede wasn?t a financial success. Wartime inflation and poor crop yields jeopardized attendance, and the city moved to declare a civic holiday in hopes of a better turnout. The Stampede sold 57,456 admissions: $1 for admission, 50 cents for a grandstand seat. It barely broke even, and there were no profits to distribute to its charity beneficiaries. Still, the memory of the 1919 Stampede helped inspire the organization of Calgary?s third Stampede in 1923.

DESIGN

The reverse image by Michelle Grant captures the excitement of the roping competition at the 1919 Victory Stampede. In the background, spectators fill the original grandstand in Calgary. In the foreground, a gold-plated cowboy holds the reins tightly with one hand while twirling the lariat overhead, as the horse races towards the target. The gold-plated rim is a four-strand rawhide lariat that was commonly used for roping livestock in that time period. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

SPECIFICATIONS