2019 $20 Fine Silver Coin Canada’s Unexplained Phenomena: The Shag Harbour Incident

This $20 fine silver rectangular coin is the second coin in the Unexplained Phenomena series to be issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. On the night of October 4, 1967, residents of Shag Harbour, N.S. reported seeing four bright lights flashing in the sky. The strange object was flying low over the fishing village when it suddenly tilted to a 45-degree angle and dropped towards the water. What appeared to be a mysterious crash was labelled a UFO incident by Canadian authorities.  

Black light-activated features set the mood for the Royal Canadian Mint's re-telling of this unsolved mystery that prompted a government investigation. The vertical image is from the perspective of three fishermen who witness the incident. Experience the feeling of awe at the sight of the strange object crashing down off the coast of Nova Scotia, before disappearing and leaving only a trail of sulphurous-smelling yellow foam. With the use of the included black light flashlight, the outline of a sci-fi worthy spacecraft is added to the four mysterious lights that were spotted in the sky. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

About the Shag Harbour Incident
At first, no one referred to it as a UFO. Laurie Wickens, then 18, noticed the lights while driving with friends and estimated the craft to measure some 60 feet in diameter. But when it came crashing down into the sea, a flash of light and a roar led some witnesses to believe a plane crash had just occurred. Three RCMP officers, including one who had also seen the lights, arrived at the impact site to find the strange object glowing in the water less than a kilometre from the shore. Officials contacted the Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax to find out if an aircraft had gone missing—all were accounted for. Coast Guard and military vessels also arrived on the scene but they were already too late: the lights had already vanished and only the sparkling yellow foam remained on the surface.

The search for a downed craft continued into the early morning hours but there was never any evidence of debris. A diving detachment of the Royal Canadian Navy also combed the seabed until the investigation was called off on October 9. What crashed in the water? Was it a top-secret aircraft? An alien ship? Government documents show authorities could not offer a conventional explanation. Even today, the Shag Harbour Incident remains a mystery and one of the best-documented encounters with an unidentified flying object.

Who saw the mysterious lights first?
Commercial pilots were the first to spot mysterious lights in the evening sky on October 4, 1967, as they approached Yarmouth, N.S. Sightings were also reported in Halifax. Seven witnesses (including Laurie Wickens) notified the RCMP about strange flashing lights or a possible plane crash. In fact, it was the authorities—not the witnesses—who first referred to the case as a UFO incident.

• Mintage: 4,000
• Dimensions: 49.80 mm x 28.60 mm
• Weight: 1 oz fine silver
• GST/HST exempt

Includes:
• 2019 $20 Fine Silver Coin Canada's Unexplained Phenomena: The Shag Harbour Incident

Warranty Information:
This product comes with a 30-day warranty through TSC.