| Reverse description |
The design on the reverse, by Canadian artist Glen Green, is a full-length portrait of the famous French-Canadian explorer and fur trader Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye. The man is dressed in field uniform, wearing a beaver-skin tricorne and armed with a sword under his capote, as well as the coule hausse-col characteristic of officers of the time. He walks along the rocky shore of Lake of the Woods, compass in hand, using the butt of his musket to balance himself on occasion, his gaze constantly fixed on the horizon, in search of the legendary `great shit West`. To his left, a few steps away, a First Nations guide with a hunting bow in hand (one of the many First Nations members whose advice and assistance proved essential to the expedition) offers advice, while one of the expedition members stands by a canoe at the water`s edge. In the background stands Fort Saint-Charles, an important trading post established in 1732 by members of the expedition. The fort is visible because of its palisades, two of whose four bastions stand out against the surrounding forest. Executed with great care, the engraving highlights this moment in history by depicting period clothing with intricate textures and details, making the piece both a true tribute to a historical figure and a remarkable collectible work of art. |
