This colourful, $20 proof fine silver coin features a delicate butterfly pausing to sip daisy nectar. In a Royal Canadian Mint first, this coin has added a semi-precious agate embellishment to the wings of a butterfly. Mintage is limited to just 6,000 pieces.  The coin contains one ounce of pure silver, and as a pure silver coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, it is GST/HST Exempt.  

The Design:

The reverse design by Canadian artist Bonnie Ross features a butterfly with outspread wings poised on an oxeye sunflower bloom. The image centers on the stunning butterfly, whose outspread wings are finely engraved at the edges and embellished with individually carved agate gemstones. Each agate butterfly wing measures 10 millimeters long and 4 millimeters high. The butterfly sits at the heart of an oxeye sunflower that dominates most of the reverse field and, using various engraving and finishing techniques, is engraved in incredible detail. The blossom’s two striated leaves and stem are visible in the background. The reverse is engraved with the word “CANADA”, the date “2016”, and the face value of “20 DOLLARS”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.