Description
This beautiful $20 colour fine silver “Snow Owl” is the last coin of the extremely popular low mintage Majestic Animals series that includes the Iconic Polar Bear, Majestic Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Misty Morning Mule Deer, Majestic Elk, and Alpha Wolf. All of the earlier coins in this series sold out very quickly from the Mint, and most now sell at more than the original issue price in the secondary market. This may be the most attractive design in the series, and is expected to have a collector demand far above the low mintage of just 6,500. The coin is double struck with the Royal Canadian Mint’s highest quality proof finish, and weighs just over one full ounce of .9999 fine silver. As a pure silver coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is HST / GST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse image by Canadian artist Douglas Liard features a snowy owl after the first snow. Intricately engraved and enhanced with vibrant colour, this unique close-up allows a view of this creature’s remarkable features, from its rounded head and black bill to the down-covered legs and toes. Perched on a dried piece of wood in a rolling field, the owl’s brown-barred white plumage allows for an element of camouflage amidst its natural surroundings—particularly as the softly falling snow blankets the landscape. Using its acute hearing, the snowy owl has detected our intrusion and has swiveled its head to spy the viewer with the big, yellow eyes that help it seek its prey throughout the seasons.
The reverse image by Canadian artist Douglas Liard features a snowy owl after the first snow. Intricately engraved and enhanced with vibrant colour, this unique close-up allows a view of this creature’s remarkable features, from its rounded head and black bill to the down-covered legs and toes. Perched on a dried piece of wood in a rolling field, the owl’s brown-barred white plumage allows for an element of camouflage amidst its natural surroundings—particularly as the softly falling snow blankets the landscape. Using its acute hearing, the snowy owl has detected our intrusion and has swiveled its head to spy the viewer with the big, yellow eyes that help it seek its prey throughout the seasons.
About the Snowy Owl:
Unlike most owls, Snowy Owls are diurnal. They’ll hunt at all hours during the continuous daylight of an Arctic summer. Male Snowy Owls are barred with dark brown when they are young and get whiter as they get older. Females keep some dark markings throughout their lives. Their thick feathers insulate them from the arctic cold. They typically weigh about 4 pounds.
Snowy Owls like treeless places and wide open spaces. Because they often sit right on the ground to hunt, they prefer rolling terrain where they can find a vantage to survey the surrounding area. Snowy Owls mainly eat small mammals, particularly lemmings. Some Snowy Owls defend their winter territories fiercely, even engaging in combat with other Snowy Owls.
Unlike most owls, Snowy Owls are diurnal. They’ll hunt at all hours during the continuous daylight of an Arctic summer. Male Snowy Owls are barred with dark brown when they are young and get whiter as they get older. Females keep some dark markings throughout their lives. Their thick feathers insulate them from the arctic cold. They typically weigh about 4 pounds.
Snowy Owls like treeless places and wide open spaces. Because they often sit right on the ground to hunt, they prefer rolling terrain where they can find a vantage to survey the surrounding area. Snowy Owls mainly eat small mammals, particularly lemmings. Some Snowy Owls defend their winter territories fiercely, even engaging in combat with other Snowy Owls.
