Description
The unmistakable black-and-white orca is an awe-inspiring emblem of Canada’s Pacific Coast, and is known for the strong family bonds that are at the heart of the tight-knit groups (or pods) they live in. This coin pays tribute to this highly intelligent and social mammal, whose ingenuity has long made it a master of its marine environment. Mintage is 6,000 coins. GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse image by Canadian artist Tony Bianco features a superb engraved portrait of a pod of orcas in the waters off Canada’s Pacific Coast. The unique perspective places the viewer at the heart of the action alongside these masters of the sea, with a side-profile view of the orcas above and below the water. Facing toward the left side of the coin, the orcas’ famously contrasting colours are conveyed through the use of various finishing techniques, ensuring each orca is clearly distinct from the others within the tight-knit group. The underwater bubbles and wavy waterline add to the sense of movement, power and energy, while the different sizes of the meticulously engraved orcas provides evidence of the strong family bonds within this pod. Three of the orcas are depicted at various stages of porpoising at the surface; with tall dorsal fins rising in the air, they break out of the water to soar above it before plunging underwater in a continuous motion. Meanwhile, an adult and a calf swim beneath the waterline, which stretches from one side of the coin’s scallop-shaped edge to the other.
Also engraved on the reverse is the face value “20 DOLLARS” and the year “2016”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
