Description
This 2014 $20 fine silver coin is the seventh and last coin in a series from the Royal Canadian Mint that celebrates the First Nations spiritual belief in the Seven Sacred Teachings, which are Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility and Truth. This coin is struck in one troy ounce of 99.99% fine silver, and features a limited mintage of 7,000. As a pure silver coin, this item is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The image on the reverse of the coin by Metis artist Nathalie Bertin depicts a graphic interpretation of a turtle seen from above, against a faint backdrop of a cluster of oak leaves. Each of the 13 scutes on the turtle's back contains an image symbolic of the 13 lunar cycles that guide the seasons. The style of illustration used by the artist is inspired by the woodland style of her Algonquin history. The image is accented with selective gold plating, while the silver rim of the coin reads "CANADA" and "20 DOLLARS".
The Turtle as Truth:
Many First Nations groups consider the turtle to be the guardian of Mother Earth's most profound truths of nature. Legend has it that in the beginning of all things, when the creator made man and gifted humans the Seven Sacred Laws, the Grandmother Turtle was present to ensure that the teachings would not be lost or forgotten. To know truth is to remain faithful to the laws of nature.
