Description
Beautiful colours flow from rim to rim on this pure silver $20 coin commemorating the 100th anniversary of Bill Reid’s birth. One of Canada’s most esteemed contemporary artists, Bill Reid brought Haida art and Canadian culture to a global audience. Adding to its collectability, mintage is limited to just 7,500. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
A Haida symbol of strength, Bill Reid’s beloved grizzly bear first appeared on a ceremonial drum crafted in 1988. Two years later, Reid adapted the design for reproduction as silkscreen prints with proceeds benefitting the Artists for Kids Trust. The design was also included with other Bill Reid art on the back of Canada’s $20 banknote introduced in 2004. The Haida Grizzly Bear symbolizes strength and shows the animal from multiple perspectives in traditional Haida colours of red and black. It's large flaring nostrils attests to the fierce character of the Grizzly Bear and the protruding tongue symbolizes the oral nature of the Haida people.
About Bill Reid: Master goldsmith, sculptor, cultural bridge builder:
Bill Reid (1920-1998) was an acclaimed master goldsmith, carver, sculptor, writer, broadcaster, mentor and community activist. Reid was born in Victoria, BC to a Haida mother and an American father with Scottish German roots, and only began exploring his Haida roots at the age of 23. This journey of discovery lasted a lifetime and shaped Reid's artistic career. He expanded the world’s appreciation for Haida art and influenced new generations of artists. His astounding body of work includes 1,500 pieces ranging from jewellery art to monumental work like The Spirit of Haida Gwaii which has appeared on RCM coins.
Reid became a pivotal force in building bridges between Indigenous people and other peoples. Through his mother, he was a member of the Raven clan from T'aanuu with the wolf as one of his family crests. Raven is known as a mischievous trickster, who also plays an important part in transforming the world. Many of these traits matched Bill Reid's personality. In 2008, the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art was created to honour his legacy and celebrate the diverse indigenous cultures of the Northwest Coast.
