The reverse design is based on fossils curated at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta, and has been reviewed for scientific accuracy by palaeontologists at the Museum. It features a near life-sized reproduction of Marrella splendens, a marine arthropod from the Middle Cambrian period (505 million years ago), whose curving spines and wedge-shaped head are among its most distinguishing features. A carefully sculpted rock texture fills the field and surrounds the precision-engraved fossils, resulting in a more true-to-life rendering of the Marrella specimen recovered from the Burgess Shale Formation. While the rimless coin's unique shape is the product of an old coin-making technique, the antiqued look of a patina finish adds to the design's "ancient" look and feel, which extends to the prehistoric-looking font on the reverse and obverse. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Feature- The second of TWO new coins added to our wildly popular Ancient Canada series, which had collectors clamouring for more
- Adding to the engraved textural details, a beautiful patina finish gives the coin an antiqued appearance that reflects the series' theme, while the prehistoric-looking font adds to the "lost in time" feel of it all
- The design features precision engraving that realistically mimics the timeworn look and feel of fossils embedded in sandstone.
- Struck using an old coin-minting technique, each coin may vary in size: it may be larger or flatter, but it will always have a minimum diameter of 38 mm!
Additional Info
Year | 2018 |
Metal Content | 31.39g |
Denomination | $20 |
Purity | 9999 |
Condition | Antique |
Country | Canada |
Manufacturer | Royal Canadian Mint |
Mintage | 5,500 |
Diameter (mm) | 38 mm |
Edge | Plain |
Box & Certificate | Yes |