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26 www.resourceworld.com O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 First Yukon gold coin makes history by Robert Simpson G iven Yukon's rich history of gold exploration and mining, it's strange that nearly 125 years after the Gold Rush, the Yukon Mint™ finally has its first gold coin. Janet Lee-Sheriff, Chief Executive Officer at Golden Predator Mining Corp. [GPY-TSXV], created a wholly owned subsidiary – The Yukon Mint – and began the process of minting coins that rep - resent the Yukon from raw material to design. The gold for the gold coins was collected from a bulk sample taken from Golden Predator's 3 Aces Project in southeast Yukon. Golden Predator processed the bulk sample at their own 40 tonne- per-day test processing plant in the Yukon, extracting gold without the use of chemicals, using only water and gravity. "We are always looking for ways to involve the community in our projects at every stage of exploration," said Lee-Sheriff. "Involving the arts community and finding ways to have a product that is the result of exploration efforts were all important factors in the decision to form the Mint. It feels great to have something produced by our collective efforts that we can keep forever." Lee-Sheriff trademarked the Yukon Mint™ and ran a design con - test for the inaugural series of the coins. 'My Kaska Nation' invited members of the Kaska Nation to submit their artwork to be featured on the gold coins. The winning design, 'Keda' (Dene for 'Moose'), submitted by Kaska artist Miranda Lane, was based on her painting 'True North Moose'. "The Keda is honoured and recognized for all the gifts she provides our people," says Lane. The moose represents hunting, food, com - munity, kindness and survival. "The trees on the coin represent the reciprocal arrangement we all have with Mother Earth," she added. On the reverse side of the coin is the golden staircase depicting the pioneer prospector's struggle over the summit of a mountain on their way to take part in the iconic Klondike Gold Rush. The coins were debuted in Toronto on Yukon Day, May 30, 2018, a day led by Yukon Premier Sandy Silver promoting exploration and mining in the Yukon. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner of McEwen Mining Inc. [MUX-TSX, NYSE], one of Golden Predator's largest sharehold - ers, purchased the first one-ounce, 2018, Keda, gold coin. The 2018 Keda, .9999 one-ounce and one-and-a-half-ounce gold coins, went on sale during National Aboriginal Day Celebrations on June 21, 2018. The Yukon Mint will share proceeds from the gold coins with the Kaska Nation. The Yukon Mint™ intends to run annual design contests and pro - duce a series of gold coins. n Miranda Lane Miranda Lane is a self-taught artist and spiritual intuitive. When she was a child, her grandfather (Mother's father) Chief Little Jimmy, shared the importance of animal medicine and the value of our interconnectedness with all beings and Mother Earth. These lessons have greatly influenced and contributed to her artistic endeavours. She describes herself as someone who "paints intuitively from the heart, capturing the gifts of Mother Earth, using Spirit animals to deliver messages to help others on their Earth walk". Miranda is a member of the Wolf clan and a citizen of the Liard First Nation and currently lives in Alberta with her husband Doug of 28 years and her mother. She is the mother of two grown sons, Joshua and Jeremiah, and has a degree in Psychology and Social Welfare. When she isn't painting, drawing, or creating art out of her home studio she provides Spiritual Intuitive Counselling from home. The Yukon Mint's first gold coin. Photo courtesy The Yukon Mint.