COIN, COMMEMORATIVE

Description: 1. CASE. OUTSIDE IS BURGUNDY LEATHER, WITH GOLD METAL TRIM. UNDERSIDE OF CASE IS STAMPED IN GOLD WITH "MADE IN CANADA". TOP HALF OF CASE OPENS ON A HINGE AT THE BACK. INSIDE THE BOTTOM HALF IS BURGUNDY VELVET WITH A ROUND INSET WHICH THE COIN SITS IN. INSIDE THE TOP OF CASE IS WHITE SATIN STAMPED IN GOLD WITH A SHIELD, OVERTOP OF WHICH IS A CROSS. ONE SECTION OF THE SHIELD HAS AN "M". SURROUNDING SHIELD READS "PAPAL VISIT CANADA 1984 VISITE DU PAPE". 2. COIN. 0.3CM(H) X 3.4CM(D). COIN IS GOLD. OBVERSE HAS A 3/4 LENGTH IMAGE OF THE POPE HOLDING HIS ARM UP AND OUT. UNDERNEATH HIM ARE 2 BRANCHES OF MAPLE LEAVES. SURROUNDING HIM READS "JOANNES PAULUS II PONT. MAX.". REVERSE SIDE HAS A COAT OF ARMS (OF POPE JOHN PAUL II) - INCLUDES SAME SHIELD THAT IS ON INSIDE LID OF CASE. SURROUNDING THIS READS "PAPAL VISIT" "VISITE DU PAPE" "CANADA 1984". BETWEEN EACH SET OF THE PREVIOUS WORDS IS A DOVE. 3. CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. 0.1CM(H) X 9.2CM(L) X 6.7CM(W). RED PRINT ON OFF WHITE PAPER. PAPER IS FOLDED IN HALF. FRONT READS "CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY" . . . "NO 40265". INSIDE READS "THE DESIGN". . . AND THE MEDAL", ON ONE SIDE AND THE SAME IN FRENCH ON THE OTHER.

History: FRED DROSTE WAS BORN, RAISED, AND EDUCATED IN GERMANY. HE IMMIGRATED TO CANADA IN 1930 TO ENGELFELD, SASK. HE LATER MOVED TO NALCAM, SASK, AND THERE MARRIED MINA IN 1934. IN 1945 THEY MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED IN CARPENTRY (AT NEW ENERSON GARAGE). LATER HE WORKED FOR THE SEPERATE SCHOOL DISTRICT #9 AS MAINTENANCE MAN, AND RETIRED IN 1973. HE RESIDED IN LETHBRIDGE UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY OF 2001. FRED WAS A MEMBER OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH WHERE HE WAS THE CHOIR DIRECTOR FOR 30 YEARS. *UPDATE* IN 2010 NICOLE HEMBROFF MET WITH LORENZE DROSTE TO DISCUSS THE OBJECTS HE HAD DONATED TO THE GALT ON BEHALF OF HIS FATHER, FRED DROSTE. SEE BELOW. ACCORDING TO DROSTE, HIS FATHER WENT UP TO EDMONTON, AB FOR THE PAPAL VISIT. HE SAID, "A LOT OF MEMBERS FROM THE ST. PATRICK'S CHOIR WENT UP BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY PERFORMED OR NOT. THERE WAS A BUSLOAD OF MEMBERS THAT WENT UP FROM ST. PAT'S." ACCORDING TO DROSTE, HIS FATHER DIDN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT THE TRIP EXCEPT THAT HE ENJOYED IT. SEE P20000020001 FOR MORE INFORMATION.