A Royal Canadian Mint subscription of four silver coins depicting baby animals is selling quickly. Ordering opened to everyone Tuesday, March 3, and 81% of the available 7,500 are already claimed.
Four different baby animals are featured on coins of the subscription. Designed by wildlife Canadian artist Desmond McCaffrey, the first coin depicts a young black bear cub sitting by its mother in the wild.
"A three-quarter profile of the bear cub provides a view of its features, from the soft facial expression down to the cub’s paws," describes the Mint. "The cub is seated in front of a salmonberry plant; both engraved elements are enhanced by the use of selective coloring which vividly recreates their coloring in the wild."
To the side of the cub is its protective mother. Encircling inscriptions include 20 DOLLARS, 2015, CANADA and the artist’s initials CJ. Coin obverses show Susanna Blunt’s effigy of the Queen with inscriptions of ELIZABETH II and DG REGINA, which is Latin for "By the Grace of God, Queen."
Coins are minted in collector proof finish an struck in 99.99% pure silver. All Mint-provided coin specifications include:
- Mintage: 7,500
- Composition: 99.99% pure silver
- Finish: proof
- Weight (g): 31.39
- Diameter (mm): 38
- Certificate: serialized
- Face value: 20 dollars
- Reverse Artist: Desmond McCaffrey
- Obverse Artist: Susanna Blunt
Ordering
Orders for the 2015 4-Coin Baby Animals Subscription may be placed on the Royal Canadian Mint’s website at mint.ca. An affiliate link to the Mint’s animal-themed coins is right here. Pricing per coin is CAD $99.95, or US $79.67.
Royal Canadian Mint Master Club members had early access to the subscription, propelling early sales. Master Club members are Royal Canadian Mint customers who have spent more than $999.99 CAD in a consecutive 365 days based on the first date of purchase.
The Mint has not yet revealed the baby animals to be depicted in the next three coins.
