The Royal Canadian Mint has issued a new glow-in-the-dark coin to commemorate an eery UFO sighting over Clarenville almost 42 years ago.

It was just before 2 a.m. on October 26, 1978 when RCMP Const. James Blackwood, along with several witnesses, watched as a brightly lit, oval-shaped craft hovered over the waters near Random Island.

The UFO made no sound but when Blackwood turned on the flashing lights atop his cruiser, the mysterious craft instantly mimicked the lights. It remained in the area for about an hour before suddenly rising up and vanishing into the night.

The artwork for the coin was created by Fogo Island artist, Adam Young.

The Clarvenville coin is the third in the Mint’s Unexplained Phenomena series celebrating the colourful retelling of a famous Canadian UFO event.

The coin is one ounce of pure silver and sells for $129.50. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, 90 per cent of the 5,000 coins minted have already been sold.