Description
One of the most powerful spirits in Northwest Coast mythology, the Thunderbird holds a special place of honour on this 2018 $25 pure silver coin. Beautifully engraved in ultra high relief, the Thunderbird seemingly emerges from the surface of the coin, where a selective touch of colour reflects the expressive art style of the native peoples.
The coin weighs about one ounce of pure silver, and has an extremely limited mintage of just 5,000. As a pure silver coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
A legendary mythological creature, the Thunderbird is a supernatural force of nature in this design by Northwest Coast artist Andy Everson. Ultra high relief engraving mimics the deeply sculpted nature of traditional carvings, and gives the Thunderbird the appearance of emerging from the coin’s silver surface. It is said that with every blink, the Thunderbird sends lightning bolts flashing across the sky, and every beat of its wings emits tremendous thunderclaps; in keeping with the expressive art style of the Kwakwaka’wakw, a selective application of colours add to the visual storytelling by drawing attention to the Thunderbird’s features and heightening the dramatic intensity of the lightning bolts. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
