Various stories have emerged over the centuries, and one of the most popular is the Kwakwaka’wakw legend of a man who ventured into the forest where he came across a magical frog as large as a man. Copper shone from its mouth, and despite its ability to suddenly disappear, the frog allowed the man to vanquish it. With great effort, the man rolled the frog over and found a stack of copper shields underneath—a luxury reserved for the highest-ranking chiefs who would display them at potlatches and use them to settle disputes. This coin is a brilliantly executed work of art that portrays the frog in the distinctive form line style of the Pacific Northwest, complete with a copper shield engraved on its tongue—a gift of wealth. Mintage is limited to 1,500 coins worldwide. HST/GST exempt.

The Design:

This colour-and-varnish-enhanced $100 coin is 14-karat gold with a diameter of 27 millimetres and a weight of 12 grams. Canadian K’ómoks and Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw artist Andy Everson provides a modern interpretation of the ancient formline art in this graphic portrait of the frog with a copper shield engraved on its tongue. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.