The Royal Canadian Mint’s Lost Designs from the Archives series brought Emanuel Hahn’s long-forgotten coin concepts from 1936 to life. For 2025, the focus is on some of Hahn’s original fauna designs, beginning with his polar bear concept for the 25-cent coin. All of Hahn’s hand-drawn details, even the original year “1936”, are beautifully reproduced on this 2025 tribute, which is further enhanced with selective gold plating— a first for this archived design from one of Canada’s most renowned sculptors and coin artists. HST/GST Exempt.

The Design:

Based on an original pencil sketch that is part of the National Currency Collection (NCC) of the Bank of Canada Museum. The original year (“1936”) has been kept intact on this 2025 coin’s reverse, unlike the 2018 Royal Canadian Mint Coin Lore: The Coins That Never Were set, which marked this design’s first ever appearance on a coin. Features the effigy of King George V, as seen on coins issued in 1936.