Canada’s magnificent wildlife and scenery take center stage on large format coins. The Royal Canadian Mint recently released gold and silver 2016 Roaring Grizzly Bear coins in 1/2 kilogram sizes.
Each serves as the last strike within the Mint’s Call of the Wild series and each has an extremely limited mintage.
"The grizzly bear is one of nature’s most imposing sight — even more so when it roars," the Royal Canadian Mint describes on its website. "This exceptionally detailed, low-mintage coin captures all the power of that fearsome stance in pure gold (or silver), set against a background depicting the vast remoteness of the Canadian wilderness."
The Call of the Wild programs debuted in 2014 with Howling Wolf coins followed by Growling Cougar coins in 2015.
Coin Design and Specifications
Royal Canadian Mint artist Pierre Leduc designed the roaring grizzly found on each coin’s reverse (tails side). Behind the bear, a river courses through a rocky northern wilderness. Above, the sky is hand-polished to offer a glowing proof finish. Reverse inscriptions are kept simple with only CANADA, 2016 and the artist’s initials.
The coins’ obverse (heads side) has the Susanna Blunt effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Inscriptions around the portrait read, ELIZABETH II, D G REGINA and the legal tender face values of 1250 DOLLARS for the gold coin and 125 DOLLARS for the silver coin.
Specifications for the gold and silver grizzly bear coins are as follows:
Roaring Grizzly Bear Coin Specifications
| Gold Coin | Silver Coin | |
|---|---|---|
| Mintage | 20 | 600 |
| Composition | 99.99% pure gold | 99.99% pure silver |
| Finish | proof | |
| Weight (g) | 500 | |
| Diameter (mm) | 85 | |
| Edge | serrated | |
| Certificate | serialized | |
| Face Value (CAD) | $1,250 | $125 |
| Obverse Artist | Susanna Blunt | |
| Reverse Artist | Pierre Leduc | |
Ordering
Orders are accepted directly by the Royal Canadian Mint. This affiliate link goes to the Mint’s product page for the silver coin on mint.ca. Only phone orders are accepted for the gold coin by calling 1-800-267-1871 (Canada), 1-800-268-6468 (US) or 613-954-2626 (International).
Each coin comes encapsulated with a Royal Canadian Mint-branded wooden box.
