Description
This 2017 $30 pure silver coin is the second cut out design on a Canadian coin. Like a puzzle with a missing piece, it’s hard to imagine Canada without many of its most iconic species, including the whooping crane.
The alluring whooping crane is North America’s tallest bird. It’s also one of our rarest avian friends and the focus of intensive conservation efforts over the last few decades. With its uniquely shaped cutout, this fine silver coin shines the spotlight on the whooping crane—a national symbol whose numbers are in decline in Canada’s wilderness. Mintage is limited to 5,500. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse design by Canadian artist Trevor Tennant whisks the viewer to the northern boreal plains—specifically the remote wetlands near the border of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Detailed engraving and multiple finishes recreate the mighty forests that surround the whooping crane’s natural nesting grounds, where it builds its nest in the low vegetation that lines the shallow water. Skillfully carved to ensure a smooth edge, the crane-shaped cut-out re-creates the large bird’s unmistakable silhouette, which stands as a tribute to this great conservation icon. But the eye-catching element also delivers a powerful message; it’s a re-imagining of the landscape without its long-endangered summer resident. The reverse includes the word “CANADA”, the face value “30 DOLLARS” and the year “2017”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
