2018 31.83 gram Canada Geometric Fauna Series Grey Wolves .9999 Silver Proof Coin

Designed by Canadian artist Claude Thivierge, the reverse fuses two different art styles—low poly art and a more true-to-life style—for a contemporary take on a classic wilderness icon. On this misty, moonlit night, Canis lupus moves swiftly and silently down a rocky outcrop in Canada's boreal forest. Bold colour over the engraved relief brings the landscape to life through a wealth of textural details that add a realistic touch to this multi-layered design. The coin's silver surface is visible within the two engraved wolves, which are comprised of multiple polygon shapes that define the low poly art style. In spite of the straight lines and pointed edges, each shape is carefully positioned to convey the natural curves of the grey wolf's familiar outline, while various finishing techniques mimic the effect of light and shadows. One wolf's instinctive leap suddenly creates the illusion of movement, transformation and the "shattering" of boundaries—those of its geometric form, and the reverse image itself—as its depiction artfully transitions.

• The grey wolf kicks off a superb new series of wildlife portraits that takes a more contemporary approach to design, by merging a realistic depiction with one based on pure geometry.
• Each of these beloved icons of the Canadian wilderness is comprised of carefully positioned polygon shapes that are characteristic of low poly art, before merging with a more true-to-life depiction.
• Precisely engraved to ensure crisp lines, each polygon shape is set apart by different finishing techniques that mimic light and shadows, which adds yet another realistic touch to the stylized image.
• Nature's beauty is brought to life by a spectacular application of bold colours over engraved relief that transforms the original art into a multi-layered, numismatic masterpiece.
• Throughout the series, a "shattering" effect marks the transition between stylized and realistic art while adding an awe-inspiring sense of movement—one gets the sense that each animal's instinctive movement allows them to break free from the constraints of its geometric form.