
The Royal Canadian Mint is releasing a limited-edition $20 coin to commemorate the unusual story of a Manitoba man’s close encounter with a flying saucer. The one-ounce silver coin immortalizes Stefan Michalak’s harrowing experience in Whiteshell Provincial Park, east of Winnipeg, more than 50 years ago. He reported suffering burns when he cam into contact with a UFO in what became known as the Falcon Lake incident in May of 1967.
The coin carries the standard engraving of the Queen on one side, and on the other, a full-colour depiction of a man falling to the ground, while a flying saucer hovers above him. And just like the story, the coin is unusual because of it’s oval-shape (kind of like a guitar pick), and it comes with a black light flashlight, which the mint says gives it an otherworldly glow.
Only 4,000 of these coins will be produced and each one will come with a retail price tag of $129.95. The Falcon Lake coin was produced at the mint in Ottawa, which creates special commemorative pieces.
Image source: ROYAL CANADIAN MINT