Description
This 2017 $20 fine silver coin is the second of a three coin series that pays tribute to the oceans that border our land. The rich diversity of life in the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic Oceans are an important part of Canada’s maritime heritage. Adding to its collectability, the mintage is limited to just 7,500. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is HST/GST exempt.
The Design:
Designed by Canadian artist Tony Bianco, the reverse image takes us to the coastal waters of British Columbia to where we get a close up glimpse of marine life in the Pacific Ocean. The engraved word “CANADA” hangs in the air over the breaking swell waves, which add a sense of motion to the design as they sweep over the increasingly shallow water. Transitioning to the underwater realm, an exceptional amount of detail brings the rock-lined sea floor to life; one can easily imagine the soft swaying motion of the plants as each wave moves overtop in quick succession. Nonetheless, the focus of the design remains the two Chinook salmon as they feast on small fish; the use of selective gold plating highlights the intricacy of the engraved design, which recreates the textured appearance of the salmon’s scales and fins to provide a more life-like portrait of this iconic species.
