Description
A low mintage of just 750 coins and a large format containing ten ounces of pure silver make this new $100 Beaver coin a high quality collector piece. Few other species invoke the spirit of our wilderness and embody our history like the Beaver, whose stone-sculpted likeness welcomes all who stand at the base of the Peace Tower. The Centre Block’s shield-supporting beaver is the second of four Keepers of Parliament to be featured in this series based on the original stone carvings on Parliament Hill. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
The reverse image by artist Patrick Bélanger offers a rare close-up of the beaver sculpture that stands atop the ceremonial entrance on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario. The deliberate positioning of the beaver helps convey the height (1metre) of the actual stone sentinel, while a frontal view emphasizes the facial features and textural details. The industrious animal emblem of Canada grips an unusual shield bearing the floral emblems of five European cultures that figure prominently in Canadian history: the English Tudor rose, the Scottish thistle, the Irish shamrock, the French fleur-de-lis and the Welsh leek. Gold plating selectively highlights the heraldic-themed element and a scattering of maple leaves. To the right of the sculpture is an ornamental flourish, whose floral motif is based on a frieze that also adorns the Centre Block’s grand entrance. The reverse includes the face value, “100 DOLLARS”, and the words “CANADA 2018”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
