The Concept
Turning a Vision into Reality
Senior Mint Engraver Susan Taylor and a team of engineers accepted the challenge of turning Rick Hansen's latest vision into reality. The result is a medal steeped in the imagery of a great Canadian achievement brought to life through the skill and innovation of the Royal Canadian Mint.
Significant in Every Detail
The 85 mm diameter of the Rick Hansen Medal is a subtle tribute to 1985, when Rick Hansen first pushed off on his two year, two month and two day epic. Composed of sterling silver (92.5 % silver and 7.5% copper), the high-relief medal weighs 400 grams with an overall gauge (thickness) of 8 mm.
The Participant Medals will be of a smaller 65 mm diameter and will reproduce the design of the Rick Hansen Medal.
Medal Specifications
- Sterling Silver
- 85 mm diameter
- High-Relief
- Overall gauge (thickness of the medals) 8 mm
- Approximate weight 400 grams
- The Rick Hansen Medal also features edge lettering - "Anything is Possible" / "Tout est possible"
Design Elements: Obverse
- The design on the obverse (also referred to as the "face" or "front") of the medal consists of a series uniquely textured ribbons intersecting each other, implying motion, excitement and celebration.
- The bilingual motto of the 25th Anniversary: "MANY IN MOTION – UNIS EN MOUVEMENT" is prominently engraved on one ribbon curving in a circular pattern.
- This feature is surrounded by three other ribbons textured with raised dots of varying diameters. The ribbons symbolize the long trails of the Man In Motion World Tour, as well as the waves of energy and inspiration Rick Hansen left in his wake.
- The patterns of raised dots represent the many who have been inspired by Rick and his story and the many more who will be motivated to make a difference over the course of the 25th Anniversary Relay.
- Hinting at the overcoming of obstacles and the opening of possibilities when one is inspired to realize a dream, parts of these bands extend beyond the circumference of the medal.
- On the bottom left quarter are boldly engraved the words: "25 Years – Rick Hansen" in bilingual format.
Design Elements: Reverse
- The reverse (also referred to as the "back") features mirror images of the motion ribbons found on its obverse. The forward angle of these ribbons evokes the journey ahead, as Rick Hansen and the many in motion continue to pursue their goals.
- The reverse design is completed by the official logo of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary, which shows the enduring and inspiring silhouette of Rick Hansen on the original Man in Motion Tour.
- The remaining surface of the medal features the intricate texture of the palm of an actual cycling glove worn by Rick Hansen on his Man in Motion Tour. This is the same glove which circled the globe again from space in August 2007, when Canadian astronaut Dave Williams brought it aboard a mission on the U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour.
- Every wrinkle and crease that was formed on this famous glove along Rick's historic journey is faithfully reproduced through a laser engraving process unique to the Royal Canadian Mint. Like a topographical map, the texture of the glove tells the story of the many hills and valleys through which Rick Hansen and his team persevered on the Man in Motion World Tour of 25 years ago.
- The glove side of the medal was created using a technology that was recently developed on the Royal Canadian Mint lasers. This laser technology makes it possible to simulate the relief of virtually any surface or texture using nothing more than a high resolution digital photo as a starting point.
- The medal design is the result of collaborative efforts between the Royal Canadian Mint and the Rick Hansen Foundation.
