Description
This 2016 $20 proof fine silver colour coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint uses selective colour and a Swarovski® crystal element to present the Bigleaf Maple with sparkling raindrops. Mintage is extremely limited to only 4,500. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
This coin features Bigleaf Maples along a forest trail. The closest leaves are seen in perspective with sparkling shaped raindrops created with Swarovski® crystals. The front is engraved with the word “CANADA,” the date “2016”, and the face value of “20 DOLLARS.”
Bigleaf Maple:
The Bigleaf Maple can be found in the southwest corner of British Columbia, in low to mid elevations, on gravelly, moist soils by the river, lake or stream edge. It is the largest and fastest growing maple in Canada, growing up to 36 metres. Its leaves are thick, and large (15 to 30 cm across) with five to seven lobes, with a greyish brown bark. Its seeds are food for small mammals and birds, while its twigs are food for elk and deer.
With its moderate hardness and close grain, the Bigleaf Maple is used to make furniture, musical instruments, dishes, pipes, paddles and much more. The inner bark can be used to make baskets and rope, while the sap of this magnificent tree can be used in cooking, as a glaze, in salad dressings, and in or over desserts.
