For coin collectors and those hoping to hold a piece of important history, this is for you!
February is Black History Month, and the Royal Canadian Mint has released a special $20 pure silver coin to commemorate Black settlers in Canada
Specifically in Amber Valley (formerly Pine Creek), Alberta, as it holds a vibrant history as one of western-Canada’s largest all-Black settlements.
According to the Royal Mint’s website, the people were lured north to Canada with the promise of land and a better life free of racial violence, so Amber Valley was formed in hopes of escaping racial injustice.
They arrived in Amber Valley in 1910 and worked hard to establish a thriving community, “blazing a trail as they went and building a rich legacy through their achievements.”
Together, they faced harsh weather conditions, long work days, rejection from European homesteaders, and racial hostilities that led to the active discouragement of Black immigration to Canada by 1912.
Despite this, the all-Black community thrived, with its peak population hitting around 300 residents.
The bustling community gradually dwindled after the Second World War as people began searching for work in larger urban centres.
The school closed in the 1950s and the post office closed in 1968. Only a few old and weathered buildings are said to remain, but the memory and spirit of Amber Valley is ever-present.
So, the Royal Canadian Mint’s 2024 Commemorating Black History coin aims to bring this often-overlooked story from Canada’s immigration history to life.
The finely engraved reverse represents the history of Amber Valley and honours the Black pioneers who persevered through multiple different challenges and discrimination.
It’s crafted in 1 oz. of 99.99% and only 5,500 coins are available worldwide.
If you wish to take a closer look or hope to purchase one of these coins for your own collection, you can do so here.
