You will not see Dora de Pédery-Hunt’s signature on any coin, but you will see her initials on the Queen’s shoulder.
Limited Edition plaster reproduction of working model, #21 of 275. (NCC 2009.020.003)
Dora de Pédery-Hunt’s work is as familiar as the change that jingles in your pocket. In all likelihood, you have come in contact with her work while using coins to pay for your morning cup of coffee. Dora de Pédery-Hunt was the first Canadian artist to design and sculpt an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II for coinage. Incidentally, this was the first time someone other than a British citizen had designed an official depiction of Queen Elizabeth II for this purpose.
When the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) selected Dora’s design, she painstakingly began working on a clay model. All of the details had to be carefully considered, as the depth of the relief had to be suitable for producing coins. This model was then captured in plaster, where additional refinements could be made. Any errors could easily be corrected at this stage with the addition of more plaster. The size of the plaster is usually several times larger than the actual coin in order to capture all of the fine details.
It takes the sculptor /engravers about 3 weeks to complete the clay model. (NCC 2009.020.001)
This plaster model is about 14 times larger than a quarter. (NCC 2009.020.002)
At the time, there were many steps between the plaster model and the production of coins. Today, the process has been significantly refined. The plaster model is scanned in 3D and any final corrections or enhancements can be made digitally. Guided by this digital file, an engraving machine cuts the design into a piece of steel at the correct size of the coin. Known as a reduction punch, this piece of steel is then used to make the dies which will actually strike the coins. The tremendous pressure used to strike the coins wears down the dies, so the mint will periodically use the punch to create new dies.
In 1999, the “P”, under the portrait on this punch, was added by the RCM to indicate a change in metal from nickel to multi-ply plated steel. (NCC 2010.058.006)
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Dora de Pédery-Hunt on a selection of coins from the National Currency Collection. (NCC 1993.022.080–085; 1996.031.041)
2018’s FIDEM Congress theme is Women and Women in the Natural Sciences. We are proud to present works by Dora de Pédery-Hunt.
This portrait has appeared on all Canadian coins minted between 1990 and 2003.
We want to hear from you! Do you have an idea for a blog post you’d like to see?
Content type(s):
Blog posts
The Museum Blog
November 16, 2021
The 1911 silver dollar
By: David Bergeron
The 1911 silver dollar has a history to match its prestige, and it now has a permanent home in the National Currency Collection of the Bank of Canada Museum.
Content type(s):
Blog posts
October 21, 2021
Moving mountains
By: Graham Iddon
The $20 bill of 1969 was the prototype of the Scenes of Canada note series. Yet, as more notes were designed, the theme—and the $20 note itself—would change.
Content type(s):
Blog posts
September 16, 2021
A mythic metal: Some stories of gold coins
By: Krista Broeckx
In 1896, three enterprising men struck gold in the Klondike region of the Yukon. Their story is just one of many that illustrates the allure of gold through the ages.
Content type(s):
Blog posts
September 2, 2021
Virtual Worlds. Real Economies.
By: Adam Young
The economies in modern, complex video games can teach gamers a lot about decision making and financial literacy.
Content type(s):
Blog posts
Subject(s):
Economy,
Social studies
Grade level(s):
Grade 09 / Secondary 3,
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
August 19, 2021
Fur Trade Economics
Over its 350-year lifespan, the Hudson’s Bay Company has had an enormous impact on Canada’s economy and how the nation was settled.
Content type(s):
Blog posts
Subject(s):
Economy,
History,
Social studies
Grade level(s):
Grade 05,
Grade 06,
Grade 07 / Secondary 1,
Grade 08 / Secondary 2,
Grade 09 / Secondary 3,
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
June 30, 2021
The house the Bank of Canada built
By: Graham Iddon
The Bank of Canada head office is two structures: the stone cube on Wellington Street and the glass structure that it is nestled into. Both are significant architectural landmarks.
Content type(s):
Blog posts
June 3, 2021
Value is in the Eye of the Consumer
By: Graham Iddon
Supply and demand is part of the very bedrock of an economy. It's what generates the price of any product or service.
Content type(s):
Blog posts
Subject(s):
Economy,
Financial literacy,
Social studies
Grade level(s):
Grade 07 / Secondary 1,
Grade 08 / Secondary 2,
Grade 09 / Secondary 3,
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5 and CEGEP
