Description
While the carved stone of Canada’s Parliament buildings features classic architecture and well recognized symbols of Canada, it also features a fascinating array of Gothic style mythical gargoyles that are said to protect those that they guard and protect them from evil or harmful spirits. This 2016 $25 pure silver 3-coin set features three of the most interesting and captivating of these gargoyles or grotesques.
Each coin was designed by Phillip White, a Canadian artist who has been Canada’s official Dominion Sculptor since 2006 and who has an intimate knowledge of the thousands of figures that adorn Parliament Hill. Every detail has been painstakingly reproduced, and every coin has been struck numerous times to achieve the ultra-high relief necessary to capture the depth, dimension and drama of the original sculpture. Mintage on each coin is limited to only 4,000. HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
Engraved in ultra-high relief, the coin features an original depiction by Dominion Sculptor Phil White of a Gothic-style grotesque interpreted from a carving found on the East Block of the Parliament Buildings. The image portrays a Green man disgorging stylized “stiff-leaf” foliage from its mouth. The staring figure’s brows and hair are also composed of whirling, stylized leaves and stems.
