Canadian Astronaut Coin.

The Royal Canadian Mint is issuing a series of commemorative coins celebrating the 5th anniversary of Canada’s major contribution to the International Space Station (ISS).

The second release in the Royal Canadian Mint's (RCM) Canadian Achievements series, the new coins celebrate the April 22, 2001 spacewalk by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield as he attached the Canadarm2 robotic manipulator to the ISS.

The new coins, are scheduled to be "launched" on May 15, and will be sold in two editions.

The first, a, 14-karat gold proof 300-dollar face value coin shows Hadfield on his record-setting spacewalk with a two-color laser design of the Canadarm2 in space as his background.

There are two editions. The gold has a mintage of only 1,000 40mm-diameter coins and sells for $1,089.95 CND (approximately $976 U.S.).

The silver edition is the sterling silver proof coin, also bearing a 30-dollar face value. But this silver rendition of the gold design features a selective hologram of the robot arm in space and has a mintage of 20,000. These coins will sell for $79.95 CND (approximately $72 U.S.).

Both versions feature the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt on the obverse. The design on the reverse is by artist Cecily Mok.

The coins are presented in maroon-colored display cases and come with serialized certificates of authenticity.

The coins are available directly from the RCM by calling 1-800-267-1871 in Canada, or 1-800-268-6468 in the US, by visiting the Mint online at Canadian Astronaut Coin.