Bethune coin Mint's first to honour Canadian MD CMAJ 1998;158:466 © 1998 Canadian Medical Association For the first time, the Royal Canadian Mint is striking a coin to honour a Canadian physician. Under an arrangement with China Gold Coin Inc., each company will produce 80 000 silver coins featuring Dr. Norman Bethune. The $5 coins, which will be sold as a 2-coin set, will go on sale Apr. 1 to mark the 60th anniversary of Bethune's arrival in China and his first meeting with Mao Tse-tung. Bethune, a Montreal physician, is considered a hero in China because of the care he provided for Chinese Communist soldiers who were fighting the Japanese. He died of septicemia in China on Nov. 12, 1939. The reverse of the coin shows Bethune travelling with his mobile surgical unit. Pierre Morin, a Mint spokesperson, said prices for the sets will be released closer to the Apr. 1 sales date. Information is available from the Mint, 800 267-1871 (Canada) and 800 268-6468 (US). Send a letter to the editor responding to this article Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction au sujet de cet article | CMAJ February 24, 1998 (vol 158, no 4) / JAMC le 24 février 1998 (vol 158, no 4) |