#piratesunday 2001 $20 Canada Dollar Transport: The Marco Polo Revisited

” Blackbirds tend to like Shiny Things” ~ The Bloody Raven

“So what’s in the Fancy RCM Box?”

Reading a page out of @ronavel ‘s playbook of never buying RCM Commemoratives unless it is priced at least 30% off the Issue Price…. In this case, this Proof beauty came at four dollars above the spot price with shipping included strikes me a fine good deal indeed! He said, “It’s a game of patience.”

So this is a little re-visit to a previous blog on another coin I made two months earlier, Tall Ships – The Three Masted Ships and the portrayal of the ship is simply stunning as the ship is viewed in the open waters at full sail, testimony to her record setting speed.

The Coin

20 Canada Dollars: The Marco Polo

Reverse; The Marco Polo at Full Sail, Colorized hologram ship Inset

Legend: CANADA 20 DOLLARS

Artist: J. Franklin Wright

Sterling Silver 0.925

Weight 31.1g

England, Liverpool waterfront, July 1852

Aidan Malcolm McKay pushed through the throng of humanity that lined the warm Liverpool waterfront. It appeared more like a public spectacle as they open the gate allowing the public to view its acquisition of this company's latest addition to their fleet. Most of the crowd were there for the thrill to see this new class of ship. The sight of her wharf side was simply breathtaking in size, elegance and design. The crew busy loading cargo and passengers as the ship would be underway in a matter of hours.

The Marco Polo in her prim best as the band struck a rousing fanfare for the ships first passenger voyage to Port Philip Australia. "Aye, me ship O' guuld!" He thought to himself. A sense of excitement brewed in his heart.

20 Canada Dollars: The Marco Polo

Obverse; Queen Elizabeth II facing right

Legend: ELIZABETH II D · G · REGINA · 2001

Artist: Dora de Pédery-Hunt

Reference KM#427

Aidan had to board this voyage to the new colony of Australia in an urgent need to help manage his brother's mining operations. In his right pocket was what meager savings he had remaining after selling what possessions he could not take over to the distant colony.

Two hundred sixty pounds cash, a few gold guineas with most in silver coin of the realm, and his late Father's gold pocket watch. His left pocket held his papers declaring him as a subject of the crown, a Reservation letter, along with his brother's letter urging Aidan to leave his Tenant farm and travel with best speed to this far colony for the new business opportunities there.

With industry becoming machine driven, restrictive land reforms, increasing poverty and growing unemployment what can anyone do? But start a new life knowing he may never return to Scotland again.

Stubbornly independent a soul he knew his brother was no stranger to hard work on any farm but always dreamed of finding gold and silver along with his childhood friend Callum Sutharlainn as wee lads.

Luck would have it when both Duncan and Callum traveled to seek their fortune in the Americas just two years before the California gold rush he had the wherewithal to built a decent company with his partner Callum rather than drink all away in rash excesses. After all he was as they say, a prudent Scotsman not to waste even a worn thin Shilling. His most recent letter said...

20 Canada Dollars: The Marco Polo

Mintage of 41,828 Proof

38mm Diameter

Eleventh coin of the Twelve Coin Transportation Series

Issue Price $64.95

"To me sensible kin brother Aidan Malcolm Mackay,

I be not doing yoo ain our kin any favors if I dinnae ask yoo to comes over in guud speed. I noo lay claim to rich stakes in the Echunga in South Australia as well as me profitable Victoria mine, but I need me kin brother to manage the mine as I got my 'ands full. Troost me, Aidan. We ken almost buy our bluudy farm ain all our neighbor's tenants too! Callum ain I agreed to ave yoo as a partner in the coompany as soon as yoo get 'ere... I will come fer yea soon as know yeas come ashaire. Good bless 'er, Amelia will meet you at ... "

"... ain' she may nae be th' girl fer uh free spirit like me, boot th' lass would prefer a home fella likes yea..."

At the last page, Duncan's words took a deeper tone,

"... but in the Americas I also found another treasure more valuable than all th' gold and silver we doog up, and it was th' teste o' freedom Aidan. Ye won nae get toilin on a Tenant farm or payin tax t' King George fer breathin Scottish air. Good gave every man th' right t' decide fer 'imself, t' own land, and works hard fer 'imself if he wants. Me eyes 'ave been opened Aidan... come..."

".... Good speed yuur journey,

Duncan Angus Mackay "

There was no doubt Duncan had learned a lot from the California gold rush and applied his knowledge in the new colony according to earlier letters. There were six more hand written pages describing the business but also the unimaginable beauty of its expansive land before and the bizarre fauna and flora he seen that intrigued him.

The atmosphere seems like a celebration by the Black Ball lines still flogging passage fares of this new service. One man elbows past Aidan but stops and recognizes a fellow Scot, "Aye, tis robbery I tell you, just you see their bluudy fares!"

Among many passengers were Scots seeking a new life or their fortunes in a new land. Many like him hear of the enormous gold fortunes made but very little news of those that fail that his brother's eye have witnessed. Many with expectations unaware of the long hours , back breaking work, dangers and often sheer luck even with the knowledge of the work.

The line shortened slowly, the sign above the fare kiosk ticked away as he finally made his way to the front. He dropped his rucksack that held his only earthly belongings at his feet.

The Ticketman didn't lift his eyes to Aidan, only holding out his palm, "Reservation letter please."

"Ere yea are." Aidan slapped a wrinkled letter into the man's palm. "Intermediate class that will be £19." "£19, that's purdy steep fer passage like th' Whit Staur coumpany." The Ticketman looked up and replied, "Perhaps you should do business with the White Star Company."
"Aye lad, boot thar nex' passage is nae till anoother month." "If you are not going then please step aside for the next per..." as the Ticketman motions Aidan to step aside a portly gentleman with a pipe walked up aside the clerk and whispers into his ear.
The Ticketman nods, “Yes sir.”

The man with pipe was in good spirits and winked at Aidan, “The Marco Polo is departing in an hour, best fill her empty cabins with paying customers. You are in luck sir as the price of Intermediate class is now £16 with meals still included.” He said with a hearty laugh.” “Noo yea talkin sair! One ticket fer meself.”

The Bloody Raven's memories

"I met these young men in Sabastian California, both Duncan and Callum. Energetic, focused and prepared. What they didn't expect was a corrupt territorial Governor, a crooked town paper and a cadre of greedy bankers. I made sure to fixed things for them." ~ Tricia Maloney and the Gambler's house.1850.
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References

My own pictures shot with a Samsung SM-A530W

P. Image under Pixabay

R. Clip art from 123RF

W. Wiki Commons

Sources

Complete Set 1991 – 2003 Transportation of Land, Sea, and Rail

Wiki: Clipper Ships

Mysteries of Canada: The Marco Polo

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