Description
From provincial coats of arms to sporting mascots, the mighty moose has long been one of Canada's most popular symbols. This iconic creature is immortalized on this stunning $20 fine silver coin featuring a selectively coloured moose in a wintry setting. Found in forests across Canada–from the Alaskan border to Newfoundland and Labrador–this "gentle giant" is known for its easy-going nature. This, along with its determination, makes the moose the perfect representative for the spirit of Canada's wilderness and the people who inhabit the land. Mintage is limited to just 7,500. HST / GST exempt.
The Design:
The design by Claudio D’Angelo provides a profile glimpse of a bull moose as it moves through a snow-blanketed forest clearing. The gentle incline he traverses and the snow-clad pines of the background complete this majestic scene.
The Moose:
Moose are the largest of all the deer species, and are immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can span 6 feet from end to end. Moose are very tall, so they tend to prefer to browse higher grasses and shrubs, as lowering their heads to ground level can prove difficult. In winter their hooves act as snowshoes to support their intense weight in soft snow and in muddy ground. When the ice melts in the summer, moose can often be seen in lakes and rivers, eating aquatic plants both at and below the surface. Despite their staggering weight and size, are strong swimmers. The usually-solitary male moose (bulls) come together during rutting season to battle with their antlers for mating dominance. Females give birth to one or two calves in the spring; these calves grow quickly, and can outrun a human by the time they are just five days old.
