The Calling of an Engineer – Fine Silver Coin – Mintage: 5,000

A Mint FIRST! Our ode to engineers has a faceted edge and rim shaped like the Iron Ring. Order today!

A most honourable vocation, the field of engineering draws many of Canada’s best and brightest—individuals dedicated to innovation and problem-solving, and improving our lives. Upon earning their degree, Canada’s engineering graduates are invited to take part in an obligation ceremony, where they are conferred the Iron Ring that is a symbol of their professional values and responsibilities. That faceted ring inspired this coin’s uniquely shaped edge, itself an impressive feat of engineering. On the coin’s reverse, the ring-like rim rises up to encircle our homage to Canada’s engineers and their many varied achievements, on the 100th anniversary of the rite of passage known as The Calling of an Engineer.

Honouring Canada’s engineers with our own feat of engineering. Order today!

SPECIAL FEATURES

• A tribute to Canada’s engineers. Celebrate a century of Canadian engineering achievements with this fine silver coin, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Calling of an Engineer—a cherished rite of passage for Canada’s graduating engineers.
• A Mint first! What better way to honour Canada’s engineers than with our own feat of engineering! Led by our R&D team, this is the first coin to feature a faceted edge and rim shaped like the Iron Ring, which symbolizes the pride engineers have in their profession, as well as their obligation.
• Unique shape. This is a unique shape that we’ve never produced before, and it was specially designed for this theme.

• Special capsule. Your coin comes enclosed in a thicker, oversized capsule that allows for better viewing of the raised rim and faceted edge from all angles.
• Complex design. A mix of laser and traditional engraving, the reverse design represents the story and achievements of Canadian engineers over the past 100 years.
• Creative lettering. As another nod to engineers, the word “CANADA” appears in blueprint lettering on your coin’s reverse.
• Low mintage. Only 5,000 coins are available worldwide.
• Includes serialized certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.
• No GST/HST

DESIGN

An homage to Canada’s engineers, the reverse design by artist Pandora Young is a representation of a century of engineering innovation and achievements. The diverse field is represented by (clockwise from top): a computer screen with a robotic hand, set against an AI-inspired dot design; a wire gauge; the chemical diagram for insulin; a test tube and dropper; a hand holding a pencil; a spur gear next to a compass and the tip of a protractor; a soldering iron; and a computer chip. In the centre, the word “CANADA” appears in blueprint lettering, along with the double dates “1925-2025” commemorating the 100th anniversary (“1925-2025”) of the Calling of an Engineer—a rite of passage for Canada’s engineering graduates. The raised rim is uniquely shaped to resemble the Iron Ring worn by Canadian engineers as a symbol of professional obligation. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Iron Ring doesn’t just represent a milestone for Canadian engineers—it serves as an expression of pride for their profession, a reminder of their duty, and a symbol of their commitment to supporting fellow members of the engineering community.

The first ever Calling of an Engineer was held on April 25, 1925, in Montreal, and another ceremony was held one week later, on May 1, 1925, in Toronto. While the original rings were made of iron, most of today’s rings are stainless steel.

PACKAGING

Enclosed in an oversized capsule for better viewing, your coin is presented in a black Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The Expert:

“In 2025, the Canadian Engineering community celebrates the 100th Anniversary of The Calling of an Engineer. At an Obligation Ceremony, an Iron Ring is given to candidates—proudly worn on the little finger of the working hand—as a reminder of their obligation to lifelong ethical practice. This is the first coin ever to have bevelled facets on the edge, reminiscent of the facets of the treasured Iron Ring. 

For 100 years, obligated engineers have been on the front lines helping to build the wonderful country of Canada. May Canadian engineering innovation continue to grow and flourish for another 100 years!” – Leonard Shara, P.Eng., MBA, Chief Warden, Corporation of the Seven Wardens

The Expert:

“The iron ring is more than a symbol of professional achievement for Canadian engineers; it is a solemn reminder of the ethical obligations they hold to society. Each ring represents a commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, responsibility, and public safety. Engineers are entrusted with the power to shape the world we live in, and it is their duty to ensure their work benefits humanity and protects the well-being of all.”

– Mary A. Wells, Ph.D., FEC, FCAE, FIMMM PEng, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at University of Waterloo

The Expert:

“The Calling of an Engineer is a profound tradition that marks the first step in the transition from student to professional, carrying with it the weight of responsibility and ethical duty. This coin beautifully encapsulates the essence of this rite, serving as a lasting reminder of the commitment to excellence and integrity that defines the engineering profession. Personally, participating in this project has been an honour, reflecting the pride I take in being part of such a storied legacy.”

– Gerald McDonald, MBA, P.Eng., ICD.D, former Chief Executive Officer of Engineers Canada

The Engineer:

“I myself received an Iron Ring in a ceremony held in Montreal, where the first ceremony took place 100 years ago, so I was excited to work on this project from the beginning. For the rim, the idea of having the ring’s facets replace the usual serrations came from our Research and Development team, and we set out to replicate the angles and quantity as best as we could. We pushed the boundaries of the striking process by tripling up the rim height, from 0.18 mm to 0.6 mm, and it is this fabulous high rim that allows the ring facets to stand out and add distinction to this special coin.”

– Christian Brochu, R&D Engineer

The Engraver:

“This coin has been a very interesting challenge on multiple levels, and it required a lot of collaboration with our engineer Christian Brochu, as well as all our CNC and laser technicians. In terms of engraving, the most challenging aspects were the finer elements, such as the chemical diagram; due to their intricate nature, we had to make some choices between traditional engraving, laser engraving and various frostings, and the final coin is a combination of all of those choices.

I’m really grateful for the team’s willingness to think outside the box and use the full extent of our manufacturing capabilities, because it allowed us to achieve the very intricate design and the challenging ring-shaped rim in the best way possible!”

– Louis-Remi Labelle, 3D Artist – Engraver

The Artist:

“The challenge of this coin was to represent a field as diverse and fascinating as engineering on a canvas small enough to lose between couch cushions! The Calling of an Engineer embodies a noble oath—to protect the safety of fellow Canadians through scrupulous work—and the achievements of Canadian engineers are so impressive and important that I felt driven to include as many disciplines as possible in our celebration of their labours. From the cast-iron gears of the steam age to the precision instruments of modern biomedical, aerospace, computers, nuclear, and environmental engineering (to name just a few), I tried to raise a toast to everyone.”

– Pandora Young, Artist

The Product Manager:

“Collaboration made this coin design come to life, from Pandora’s art concept to the invaluable input of experts from various engineering organizations. Our technical team of engineers, engravers and CNC technicians really knocked this one out of the park!”

– Melanie Luis, Product Manager