Description
This 2017 $20 fine silver coin enhanced with a hand made Murano glass holiday tree is both a limited edition collectible and a beautiful work of art. The design reminds the viewer of some of the season’s time-honoured traditions, and the joyous times spent outdoors with family and friends. The application of colour presents snow-covered trees and a horse-drawn sleigh. The focal point of the coin is a snow-covered tree made of translucent Murano glass, individually hand made by master glassmakers in Murano, Italy. Mintage on this coin is only 7,000. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse design by Canadian artist Tony Bianco features a traditional Canadian winter scene in all of its tranquil beauty. As the countryside slumbers beneath a blanket of freshly fallen snow, three people venture out into the crisp morning air to enjoy a sleigh ride. Finely detailed engraving captures the intricacies of the horse-drawn sleigh and its occupants; positioned to the left side of the coin, they move through the pristine snow in front of a wooden cabin, where a plume of smoke from the chimney offers the promise of a warm fire upon their return. The grove of pines surrounds them like crystal spires, with the green colours of their branches barely visible beneath the bright white snow cover. In the center of this scene is a breathtaking Murano glass tree that has been handcrafted by master glass makers Giorgio and Bernardino Vio of Murano, Italy; this embellishment’s delicate beauty perfectly conveys the shimmering, crystal-like qualities of the snow and ice that dominate the landscape.
Murano glass coins from the Royal Canadian Mint are highly sought after today for their beauty and collectability. Because the Murano glass pine tree has been fashioned by hand, each coin is unique.
