Description
This 2023 $200 one ounce fine gold coin combines intrinsic precious metal value with exceptional Native Canadian art, a jewellery quality abalone shell inlay, and an ultra-low mintage of just 275 pieces. HST/GST exempt.
For the Haida, knowledge is power, and the most vital knowledge—the beliefs, experiences, and traditions of their people—is passed down from generation to generation. The interconnectedness of all living things, or gina ‘waadluxan gud ad kwaagid (everything depends on everything else), is fundamental to the Haida worldview, and that guiding principle is central to the main coin design featuring an iridescent abalone shell inlay surrounded by engraved motifs.
The Design:
The ovoid and U shapes on the outer ring represent the eyes of the Haida Elders and knowledge holders who watch over the younger generations, represented by the inner ring. The repetitive patterns flow into one another, as knowledge is passed down from one generation to the next, while the intertwined cedar rope further reinforces this notion of interconnection—of generations, of land and sea.
With its swirling blues and greens that call to mind the colours of the Pacific Ocean, the abalone shell centrepiece is an organic gem that symbolizes the Haida people’s deep connection with the sea. Since no two shells look the same, each coin is a truly a one-of-a-kind collectible.
Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Obverse:
As new King Charles III dies were not yet ready for this coin, the obverse features a posthumous effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the addition of the double dates of her reign, 1952-2022. The four dots or pearls between the dates are intended to represent the four differenteffigies of the Queen that have appeared on Canadian coinage.
