Description
It was 125 years ago, in 1898, that the frenzied activity of the Klondike Gold Rush resulted in the creation of the Yukon Territory—a historic moment that is commemorated on this 2023 $20 fine silver coin. Mintage is limited to just 5000 coins. HST/GST Exempt.
The Design:
The design features imagery that is reflective of First Nations cultures and collective histories. With the midnight sun blazing in the northern sky above, and within the territory’s outline, an Indigenous woman singing and playing a drum represents First Nations traditions and cultural practices. Beneath her, the mountains are reminiscent of the landscapes of central and southern Yukon, while Wolf and Crow—moieties in the matrilineal kinship system observed by most Yukon First Nations—are also represented.
The obverse features the posthumous transitional effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, including the double dates of reign 1952-2022.
Yukon:
Yukon is truly one of Canada’s most extraordinary places. Here, rivers cut through dense forests, wildlife giants roam, and mountain peaks stretch so high, they seem to touch the midnight sun. It is the ancestral home of many dynamic First Nations who have lived in synch with nature’s cyclical rhythm since time immemorial, and who are revitalizing the ways and knowledge of the past that guide the way forward. Breathtaking flora and fauna, a complex history, vibrant cultures—all of these contribute to the intricate beauty of Yukon, a territory that continues to proudly move to the beat of its own drum.
