27 November 2004 Royal Canadian Mint Strikes Coins to Commemorate Chinese Railway Workers on 120th Anniversary of the Canadian Pacific Railway   Click to enlarge coins   Ottawa - As the Canadian Pacific Railway prepares to celebrate its 120th anniversary in 2005, the Royal Canadian Mint has struck a two coin set to commemorate the completion of the transcontinental track and to honour the significant contribution of Chinese workers.   "The Canada that we know today emerged, in part, from the benefits of the Canadian Pacific Railway, " said David C. Dingwall. "In no small way, it helped develop Canada's cities and commerce, and these coins honour the importance of the Railway and the enormous contributions of the Chinese workers to its completion."   In a move to persuade British Columbia to join the Confederation in 1871, Canada promised to build a transcontinental railway to link the commercial trade routes of the East with those of the West. The monumental undertaking of the Canadian Pacific Railway entailed building tunnels through the Rocky Mountains and bridges over rivers and steep valleys.   Thousands of Chinese workers worked under harsh conditions and intensive labour lay the groundwork for the Canadian Pacific Railway's transcontinental link through British Columbia. Between 1880 and 1885, many of these workers lost their lives during the various phases of construction. The significant contribution of the Chinese workers was a key factor to the Railway's ceremonial completion on 7 Nov 1885.   The two coins are certified 99.99% fine silver with a gold plated inner core, and are limited to 20,000 sets worldwide. The first coin depicts a scene from the Canadian Pacific Railway Archives (A-11416) of an empty ballast train standing on the rail bridge spanning the Fraser River near Cisco, B.C. The second coin features the Memorial to Commemorate the Chinese Railway Workers, designed by artist Eldon Garnet in 1989 for by the City of Toronto. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.   The 2005 Chinese Railway Workers Set and other collector products can be purchased directly from the Royal Canadian Mint by calling 1-800-267-1871 or online at the Mint's Web site at www.mint.ca. They are also available from the Royal Canadian Mint's global network of dealers and distributors.