Description
This 2014 $20 fine silver coin pays homage to the exemplary Canadian maple leaf, an internationally-recognized emblem of Canada, its people, and the land itself. The coin also features glow-in-the-dark technology that allows the viewer to see the sudden appearance of a single maple leaf when viewing the coin in the dark. This coin is struck in one troy ounce of 99.99% fine silver, with a limited mintage of 7,500. As a pure silver coin, this item is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The glow-in-the-dark element is hidden in a vibrant illustration by Celia Godkin of a cluster of autumn-coloured maple leaves. The leaves, meticulously rendered in full colour, sit boldly against a mirror background. The face value and date, "20 DOLLARS" and "2014" are engraved along the top curve of the coin, while the words "FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR" are seen along the bottom, with the silver fineness "9999" on either side.
The Canadian Maple Leaf:
Canada has had a long relationship with the maple leaf, as the maple tree was a staple in Aboriginal life long before European settlers arrived on the shores of North America. Modern associations of the maple leaf harken back to the 18th century, when it was adopted as the symbol of the French Canadians who dwelled by the St. Lawrence River. At the time, it was described by the first mayor of Montreal as "the symbol of the Canadian people." By the mid-1800s, it came to be included in the Coat of Arms of both Ontario and Quebec, and by 1921, was included in the Federal Coat of Arms of Canada. In 1965, Canada's flag was changed from the Canadian Red Ensign to the Maple Leaf flag we know and love.
