Loving and strong. Dedicated and ferocious. The polar bear is an enduring symbol of the Arctic wilderness, where the sea ice is the cornerstone of life. This five ounce 2019 $50 fine silver coin features a touching mother and cub portrait of this beloved species enhanced with textural engraving that seemingly pushes the ice fragments right to the coin’s edge.  Mintage is limited to just 1,200 coins. HST/GST exempt.

The Design:

The reverse image by Tony Bianco travels to the True North for a glimpse of the polar bear at play. The engraved scene is a touching portrait of a mother and cub swimming in the cold waters of the Canadian Arctic, their closeness reflected in the way they are positioned as they emerge from the icy depths. Textural engraving adds a sense of movement across the surface of the water, where the ebb and flow generated by the swimmers’ movements pushes the floating ice right to the coin’s edge. The theme continues onto the fully engraved edge, which mimics the look of jagged ice and gives the coin its unique shape. The similarly engraved obverse features wave-driven ice shapes that form a frame around the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.