Description
This beautiful $20 fine silver coin not only features reverse gold plating and the brilliant colours and artistic designs of an Easter egg, but is also in the shape of an Easter egg. The egg shape is symbolic in many cultures to represent life itself. Mintage is extremely limited to just 5,000 worldwide. As a pure silver coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint, it is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
Designed by Canadian artist Ann C. Morash, the pysanka-themed reverse is adorned with multiple precision-engraved patterns and traditional symbols that, when viewed together as one, express a wish for spring to arrive and the earth to awaken from its winter slumber.
A full colour application allows glimpses of the coins reverse gold plating, which adds a golden nuance to select elements throughout the reverse. As per Ukrainian tradition, each colour carries deeper meaning: blue is for the sky, the air, and life-giving health; yellow signifies youth and purity; red is the colour of joy and passion; green is associated with spring and its message of hope and renewal; and black suggests the darkest time before dawn, and the idea of eternity.
The outer edge features a partial view of a flower that symbolizes beauty and the blossoming of spring, followed by a linear pattern of branches and sprouting buds that represent nature’s awakening. As a stylistic representation of birds, the coxcombs within the next band symbolize spring and fertility, while the dots represent tears. The widest band features a traditional representation of stars and the sun as a symbol of life, good fortune and growth; the solar theme extends to the circles that represent eternity and the light of the sun, while the wavy lines signify the sun’s rays and human frailty. The small triangles represent a trinity: fire, air and water, or a more spiritual-based interpretation that includes the heavens.
These four bands are mirrored on the other side of a center band, which reveals the coin’s silver surface and bears the engraved face value “20 DOLLARS”, the year “2018” and the word “CANADA”. The reverse gold-plated obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
