Description
This $20 pure silver coin beautifully captures the majesty and power of the Polar Bear. The coin is double struck with the Royal Canadian Mint’s highest quality proof finish and weighs just over one full ounce of .9999 fine silver. Mintage is limited to 8,500. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The full colour imagery created by renowned Canadian artist Glen Loates features a full body portrait of a large and powerful polar bear. The bear looks to the right, its huge front and rear paws and furred body are presented in detail. The bear is atop a small rise in an ice field. A vast rocky mountain range can be in the far distance behind the bear. It is engraved with the word "CANADA," the date "2014" and the face value of "20 DOLLARS."
The Polar Bear:
The polar bear is white and powerful, just like the snow and ice that have shaped North America. Researchers believe the polar bear once shared a common ancestor with the grizzly but branched off about 150,000 years ago to live in the Arctic. Its Latin name (Ursus maritimus) reflects the fact that it spends much of its time on the sea ice in search of seals. The polar bear has developed an acute sense of smell to locate seals in the snow, and its teeth and claws have also evolved to capture and consume its favourite prey. Other special Arctic adaptations include dense layers of fat, fur-covered footpads, and a thick, white pelt that camouflages the polar bear so it’s almost invisible against the snow; but with this coin’s coloured design, all the majesty of this great bear comes into full view for you to enjoy.
