To celebrate Canada's rich biodiversity, the Royal Canadian Mint highlights the animal kingdom's family bonds in a series that features endearing images of Canada's baby animals. This $20 fine silver coin features a heartwarming side profile image of a young goat protectively standing next to the mother goat.  Mintage is limited to just 7,500 coins. HST/GST exempt.

The Design:

The selectively coloured baby goat is presented with its mother on a rocky slope near an evergreen, surrounded by coloured wildflowers in a natural setting. The side profile provides a view of the animal’s features; the black mouth, nose and eyes contrast with the white wool coat that softens its innocent expression.  The muscular forequarters and cloven hooves allow it to move with ease at seemingly impossible heights.  The mother is seen with slender horns, a pronounced shoulder hump and long wool coat.  The design is beautifully rendered along with the engraved elements that add depth to the image, with rugged peaks in the background that convey the incredible heights reached by these remarkable alpine animals.  

Baby Goats are born in the spring (May or June) and are usually a single offspring.  They weigh a little over 7 lbs and begin to run and climb within hours of being born.  Although they are weaned off the mother within 1 month, they follow their mothers, also known as nannies, closely for the first year of life.