Description
This large and dynamic 2023 $50 fine silver coin provides a unique way to discover the present beauty of Pingualuit Crater Lake and see how it came to be. In the heart of the lunar-esque landscape of the Ungava Peninsula, in Nunavik, Quebec, lies a breathtaking lake with pure blue waters that stand out in any aerial view. A geological marvel, Pingualuit Crater Lake was created when a meteorite struck the Earth approximately 1.4 million years ago. Under normal light, the coin design features the Crystal Eye of Nunavik peering out into space. As soon as you turn on the included black light, you are instantly transported back in time to a first-hand view of the landscape-altering meteorite, mere moments before it slammed into prehistoric Canada and left an almost perfectly circular impact scar.
The Design:
Designed by Canadian artist Neil Hamelin, the coin features a colourful space view of Pingualuit Crater Lake on the Ungava Peninsula, in Nunavik, Quebec. Above the blue circular lake and its (engraved) surroundings, the detailed depiction of the Moon, the shooting stars and the Milky Way inspire awe for the wonders of the cosmos, and a deeper understanding of both the splendour and vulnerability of Earth. These elements glow when viewed under black light, which reveals a second image: a view of the meteorite on its collision course with Earth and directly above its eventual impact site.
The obverse features the posthumous transitional effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, including the double dates of her reign 1952-2022.
Mintage is limited to just 2,500 coins. HST/GST exempt.
