This Is Canada Silver Proof Coin Series Launches with Wondrous Waters Theme

The new four-coin series of silver proof coins focuses on the sights and species that make each region of Canada so unique and fascinating. There will be a different theme each year, and beginning with Wondrous Waters for 2024, this year’s set commences with the exploration of the bodies of waters that surrounds Canada from its Pacific shores to the northern Arctic waters, and from the eastern seaboard and the Atlantic to Canada’ southernmost lakes shared with the United States.

Pacific Coastline – British Columbia is considered the most biologically diverse of Canada’s ten provinces, and much of that diversity is focused along a coastline punctuated by islands and fjords. This coastal province is abundant in spectacular natural beauty where mountains and forests meet the sea, and which is home to the long-revered cultural icon of the Pacific coast – the orca.

Designed by B.C. artist Glen Green, this iconic coastal view shows a pod of orcas known as killer whales travelling in the waters near a rocky island, while in the background, forests and mountains line the shore. The obverse in the first coin in the set features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.  The obverse also bears a special marking that includes four pearls symbolizing the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins and the double date of her reign.

Arctic Coastline – Canada boasts the longest coastline in the world and two-thirds of it lies in the Arctic. Most of this coastline wraps around the many islands that lie near the top of the world, such as Baffin Island and the Queen Elizabeth Islands. Nowhere is the connection between land and sea more evident than along this vast northern coast, where life follows the seasonal cycle of sea ice, a critical habitat for polar bears, seals and more.

Designed by Inuvialuit artist Myrna Pokiak, the moonlit scene features a berry picker representing traditional foods and harvest activities on land. A snowy owl has taken flight and the tail of a beluga whale appears in the water that lines the shore, which is marked by caribou tracks and those of a polar bear. The beach is also lined with driftwood carried to the Arctic coast by rivers and ocean currents.

Atlantic Coastline – Soaring cliffs, windswept trails and scenic vistas dotted with lighthouses are familiar sights along Canada’s picturesque Atlantic coast. All along the eastern shores are harbours and countless sights of the stunning coastal scenery and maritime culture that define the Atlantic Canadian experience, a quintessential part of national identity.

Designed by artist Bonnie Ross, the sweeping view features a pair of Atlantic puffins in the foreground, while in the background, a lighthouse, an icon of Atlantic Canada’s maritime history is perched atop a rocky cliff and nestled among wind-blown trees.

Great Lakes – This aquatic region forms the largest body of freshwater on Earth and which were the main arteries of early Canada, the freshwater seas upon which people and goods have travelled since time immemorial. Though these waters are shared with the United States, the pristine wilderness of Canada’s Great Lakes region has done much to shape the world’s perception of Canada as a place teeming with life, including a number of beloved wildlife species that are regarded as quintessentially, and iconically Canadian.

Designed by Claudio D’Angelo, the idyllic setting was inspired by the rugged shoreline of Georgian Bay, and the scene features a moose standing in water between rocky islands topped with windswept pines.

Elements common to all four coins include compass elements surrounding the engraved portrait to form a frame containing the word CANADA and a face value of 20 DOLLARS. The coins representing the Arctic and Atlantic coastlines and Great Lakes include the effigy of HM King Charles III designed by Canadian artist Steven Rosati. The year of issue 2024 is placed below the King’s likeness.

The first coin, The Pacific coastline is available from the 20^th February, with the remaining three coins scheduled for release in May, August and November. The series is available as a subscription and individually. Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. For additional information, please visit here.