Royal Canadian Mint Silver Coin Design
by Artist Doug Comeau
"The Benevolent Bison" 2014
by Artist Doug Comeau
"The Benevolent Bison" 2014
release date September 6, 2016
Coin Image © 2016 Royal Canadian Mint
all rights reserved
AN INTERVIEW WITH COIN DESIGNER DOUG COMEAU
A local television station in Kingston, Ontario interviewed artist Doug Comeau, who designed the new 2016 twenty dollar fine silver coin for the Royal Canadian Mint. -Editor
Doug Comeau has been able to make his passion for art a second career.
After 22 years in the military, he opened a gallery and studio in his home.
It was here where the design for the new 2016 twenty dollar fine silver coin was created.
Doug Comeau:
“It’s like a surge of adrenaline that hits you. Like oh my god… You’re proud and then you’re like oh no, I better do a good job.”
This is the second time Comeau has been commissioned by the Mint.
Back in 2013 he completed his first silver coin which also features a Bison.
Doug Comeau:
“It strikes a good note with me because I lived in Montana back wen I was a child, 11-12 years old and that was when I got inspired the most. When I was visiting Yellow Stone National Park, the work of Charlie Russell. All the Native art. Bison art for sure . So yeah, it was kind of a cool subject for me.”
It took about one month, lots of research and many, many hours to create the Bison image, which was chosen by the Mint.
A local television station in Kingston, Ontario interviewed artist Doug Comeau, who designed the new 2016 twenty dollar fine silver coin for the Royal Canadian Mint. -Editor
Doug Comeau has been able to make his passion for art a second career.
After 22 years in the military, he opened a gallery and studio in his home.
It was here where the design for the new 2016 twenty dollar fine silver coin was created.
Doug Comeau:
“It’s like a surge of adrenaline that hits you. Like oh my god… You’re proud and then you’re like oh no, I better do a good job.”
This is the second time Comeau has been commissioned by the Mint.
Back in 2013 he completed his first silver coin which also features a Bison.
Doug Comeau:
“It strikes a good note with me because I lived in Montana back wen I was a child, 11-12 years old and that was when I got inspired the most. When I was visiting Yellow Stone National Park, the work of Charlie Russell. All the Native art. Bison art for sure . So yeah, it was kind of a cool subject for me.”
It took about one month, lots of research and many, many hours to create the Bison image, which was chosen by the Mint.
Local artist creates collectible coin for the mint
Author of the article:
Ernst Kuglin
Published Sep 08, 2016 • Last updated Sep 08, 2016 • 2 minute read
Article content
QUINTE WEST - Doug Comeau has been secretly drawing behind the scenes these past few months.
The artist, widely known for his detailed pencil drawings, was contracted by the Royal Canadian Mint for a design submission on a new $20 silver collector coin.
It’s Comeau’s second contract with the mint. Only this time he didn’t have to enter a nation-wide competition for the contract. He completed his first project for the mint in 2013.
“It’s pretty humbling to be contacted by them. I was quite honoured,” said Comeau during an interview with The Intelligencer at the Timberwolf Gallery north of Frankford.
Officials from the Mint phoned Comeau June 29, 2015.
“As an artist it’s pretty hard to make it these days... you need a catalyst, and the notoriety. Having the second coin behind me is awesome. It’s a lot of publicity and it depends on how much I want to push it,” said Comeau.
The design is based on one of Comeau’s previous bison series images from 2013, and reworked to fit the design characteristics of the new image – a detailed drawing of a full bison, head up, and completed in a full colour composition.
“I was faced with a pretty short deadline, so off to the drawing board I went,” said Comeau.
The Royal Canadian Mint released the coin to the public on Tuesday. It retails for $99.99.
“It’s always a secret up to the release date, even though the mint sends out promotions to coin collectors and distributors. It’s supposed to be kept quiet,” said Comeau.
Comeau cannot use the image. The mint owns and has the right to the image. “They are very stringent with the copyright rules, which is a good thing. The intellectual property is theirs. The authenticity gives the coin its value,” he said.
But once Comeau purchases the coin, he can use it for framing purchases.
Comeau said the parameters set down by the mint are tight.
“They are very fussy when it comes to struck coins, and the quality they desire and require. They take it right down to the stance, the position of the head – all the details you would see in one of my drawings,” said Comeau, adding his medium allows him to produce the required detailed work.
Comeau said the struck coin is “incredibly” detailed.
“It is unbelievable. You can take a magnifying glass and see the original strokes I did in pencil. This new coin almost looks like a hologram, it’s so detailed,” he said
The coin can be purchased at Canada Post outlets, or directly through the Royal Canadian Mint and through coin distributors.
Comeau is working on packaging the coin, accompanied by an “altered” drawing of a Bison. He will offer different packages.
Author of the article:
Ernst Kuglin
Published Sep 08, 2016 • Last updated Sep 08, 2016 • 2 minute read
Article content
QUINTE WEST - Doug Comeau has been secretly drawing behind the scenes these past few months.
The artist, widely known for his detailed pencil drawings, was contracted by the Royal Canadian Mint for a design submission on a new $20 silver collector coin.
It’s Comeau’s second contract with the mint. Only this time he didn’t have to enter a nation-wide competition for the contract. He completed his first project for the mint in 2013.
“It’s pretty humbling to be contacted by them. I was quite honoured,” said Comeau during an interview with The Intelligencer at the Timberwolf Gallery north of Frankford.
Officials from the Mint phoned Comeau June 29, 2015.
“As an artist it’s pretty hard to make it these days... you need a catalyst, and the notoriety. Having the second coin behind me is awesome. It’s a lot of publicity and it depends on how much I want to push it,” said Comeau.
The design is based on one of Comeau’s previous bison series images from 2013, and reworked to fit the design characteristics of the new image – a detailed drawing of a full bison, head up, and completed in a full colour composition.
“I was faced with a pretty short deadline, so off to the drawing board I went,” said Comeau.
The Royal Canadian Mint released the coin to the public on Tuesday. It retails for $99.99.
“It’s always a secret up to the release date, even though the mint sends out promotions to coin collectors and distributors. It’s supposed to be kept quiet,” said Comeau.
Comeau cannot use the image. The mint owns and has the right to the image. “They are very stringent with the copyright rules, which is a good thing. The intellectual property is theirs. The authenticity gives the coin its value,” he said.
But once Comeau purchases the coin, he can use it for framing purchases.
Comeau said the parameters set down by the mint are tight.
“They are very fussy when it comes to struck coins, and the quality they desire and require. They take it right down to the stance, the position of the head – all the details you would see in one of my drawings,” said Comeau, adding his medium allows him to produce the required detailed work.
Comeau said the struck coin is “incredibly” detailed.
“It is unbelievable. You can take a magnifying glass and see the original strokes I did in pencil. This new coin almost looks like a hologram, it’s so detailed,” he said
The coin can be purchased at Canada Post outlets, or directly through the Royal Canadian Mint and through coin distributors.
Comeau is working on packaging the coin, accompanied by an “altered” drawing of a Bison. He will offer different packages.