Mint honours 100th anniversary of CNIB with coin-medallion set featuring braille

The Royal Canadian Mint is launching a silver-coin and bronze-medallion set honouring the 100th anniversary of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and its assistance to generations of vision-impaired Canadians.

The coin and medallion set was designed by artist Meghan Sims of Kitchener, Ont., who was born with a rare condition called achromatopsia that left her partially sighted and colour-blind.

Mint collectibles are usually encapsulated to maintain their pristine condition. But this set is presented without a capsule so that a braille engraving of the legend “CNIB-100-INCA” as well as the relief of its design can be experienced through touch alone.

The medallion features some of the design elements found on the reverse of the $30 silver coin, including the number “100” engraved in braille and an abstract eye over a mountain scene to represent the foundation of the CNIB in 1918.

Seven jack pines — chosen as a symbol of the strength and resilience of people living with sight loss — honour each of the CNIB’S founding members.

The set has a limited mintage of 3,000 and retails for $219.95. It is available at Mint boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, and through its global network of dealers and distributors, including some Canada Post outlets.

“We are honoured the Royal Canadian Mint has chosen to tell CNIB’S story of a century of dedication to people who are blind and partially sighted,” said John Rafferty, the organization’s president and CEO.

“We’re delighted to have a memento as enduring and symbolic as a commemorative coin set to mark this important milestone in CNIB’S history.”