Description
This 2016 $20 fine silver coin features a vibrant selectively coloured image of an American Goldfinch that celebrates the centennial of landmark conservation measures introduced at the 1916 Migratory Birds Convention. The coin is struck in just over one ounce of 99.99% fine silver, with mintage limited to 6,500 worldwide. As a pure silver coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, it is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The design features an American Goldfinch taking flight. In the center of the coin beneath a partly cloudy sky a Goldfinch lifts off its perch on a fence post. The rich colour over engraving captures the beautiful yellow feathers, white markings and the black of its forehead, wings and tail. In the background is a farmhouse with a split rail fence that stands between a tree and the old stone building.
The Goldfinch:
The goldfinch averages 11 cm in length, and weighs about 11 g, with short cone-shaped beaks and notched tails. In spring and summer the male is bright yellow with black wings, cap and tail, with narrow white wing bars. Females are duller in colour. In winter, both males and females are brownish or greyish above, but the male has a yellow wash on the head. They eat seeds from birches, conifers and other trees. They also eat seeds from goldenrod, asters, burdock, dandelion, chicory as well as garden seeds, berries and insects.
