The Prime Ministers of Canada 1867-1969 Commemorative Medallions Collection
Numismatic collection / Commemorative medallion set in printed cardboard holder • Produced for Shell Oil Company (Canada) by the Franklin Mint or a similar commercial medallic mint
Style & Movement
Mid-century Canadian graphic design / Mass-produced historical memorabilia
Medium & Technique
Struck metal medallions (likely bronze-plated or aluminum alloy) with lithographed cardboard display folder; mechanical die-striking and offset printing techniques
Creation Period
Circa 1969
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 10 x 10 inches; square format folder with circular inset medallions
Subject Description
Commemoration of the Prime Ministers of Canada from Confederation to 1969. The layout features circular relief portraits of leaders including Sir John A. Macdonald and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, arranged around a central illustration of the Centre Block of the Canadian Parliament Buildings (Peace Tower).
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Poor. The cardboard folder shows significant edge wear, tearing, and surface loss. Several medallions are missing (vacant slots), and remaining medallions show heavy oxidation/tarnish.
Estimated Market Value
$5 - $15 USD (due to incomplete state and poor condition)
Auction Estimate
$10 - $20 USD (as a bulk lot or novelty historical item)
Provenance History
Mass-market promotional item, typically distributed at Shell gas stations in Canada during the late 1960s as a 'collect-and-complete' promotional game or educational set.
Art Historical Significance
Limited art historical value; primarily significant as a piece of 20th-century Canadian commercial ephemera and political memorabilia, reflecting the era's focus on national identity during the Canadian Centennial period.
Notable Features
Features the 1960s-era branding of Canadian political history; includes the rare inclusion of Pierre Trudeau as a 'current' figure at the time of printing; text is oriented in a circular fashion requiring rotation to read individual names.
Condition Issues
Missing medallions (3-4 slots empty), severe structural damage to the cardboard (tears and creases), surface abrasions, and metal corrosion on the remaining coins.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in an acid-free archival sleeve to prevent further cardboard deterioration; keep in a low-humidity environment to arrest metal oxidation; do not attempt to clean medallions with chemicals as this can destroy the original patina/finish.