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It was an honour to be asked to provide a special gift on behalf of the RCAF to present to the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny. Despite the immense pressure of getting our complex new minting operation fully operational, we committed ourselves completely—working day and night, including a 30-hour shift in the final stretch—to ensure everything was ready for the Mess Dinner in Calgary in late March 2024.

In addition to the Commander, we had the privilege of presenting coins to the Honourary Colonel of 410 Squadron and the retired 4 Wing Commander, callsign “MuskOx.” Each individual received a personalized prototype from our first-ever series of coins struck under the Beaverworks Mint banner—proudly produced in-house using our newly developed minting system.

This particular project was not just a coin—it was a deeply personal gift, created in gratitude for the service and dedication of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Despite multiple offers, we steadfastly refused any payment. This opportunity came at a pivotal time in our journey, as we were still learning and mastering the minting process from the ground up.

In total, we produced 13 prototype Command Maples—each one a step forward in our development. The first twelve were struck in the early stages, as seen in the slider gallery above. These prototypes featured an early concept of the golden eagle crest, and once complete, the die was ground down and retired permanently.

We worked tirelessly on every aspect—engraving, striking, packaging, and embroidery. The packaging itself included custom embroidered RCAF crests on tartan fabric, made in-house using our 15-needle digital embroidery machine. Even the broken steel dies, which we included as part of the presentation, served as a symbolic reminder: never outsource critical materials. Those dies, sourced from inferior overseas steel, failed under pressure—a lesson we’ll never forget.

On the final stretch, our founder pulled a 30-hour shift followed by another 16-hour day to ensure every element met the standard this moment deserved. The coins, while not flawless, represented our very best at that point in time—and we are deeply proud that they were placed in the hands of those who stood by us as we built Beaverworks Mint from the ground up.

Tragically, on the same night we struck our very first complete coin, we learned that our greatest supporter, Ms. Vicki Torrie, had passed away. She never got to see what she helped make possible. In her honour, we presented a coin at her funeral in April 2024 at the Edmonton Legion to her husband. Her strength, grace, and unwavering encouragement are etched into everything we do.

Every detail in this project carried meaning: from the layered, embossed-style packaging design to the embroidered eagles in black (symbolizing senior command leadership), orange (a nod to the Avro Arrow’s experimental legacy), and pink (a tribute to Vicki’s feminine strength and powerful presence). This was a tribute from the heart—to honour those who serve, and those who made our mission possible.

This particular gift was an all-in effort—a true investment of time, energy, love, and deep respect for Canada, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Armed Forces as a whole. When the royal red velvet-wrapped presentation boxes were finally handed over, we could rest knowing we had pushed every boundary within our means—creatively, technically, and symbolically.

We undertook this project on behalf of all Canadians, and our community of collectors, with the goal of doing it right—at every step, in every medium, and to the highest standard we could achieve. It was a mission of honour, and we carried it out with everything we had.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Colonel Jim Donihee for trusting us with this remarkable opportunity. We look forward to creating more meaningful gifts in the future for the RCAF and continuing to celebrate the legacy of service and excellence that defines Canada’s Air Force.

We invite you to explore the image gallery at the top of this page to see just a glimpse of the extraordinary work that went into this project. It’s only a fraction of the journey, but one we’re proud to share.