Canada 2016 Mythical Realms of the Haida Series: The Orca 5 Ounce Gold Coin

Description:

From the Royal Canadian Mint: Haida Gwaii is a place of astounding natural beauty; a land of ancient legends where mythical beings move about in the guise of familiar animals from our three-dimensional world. This mesmerizing new coin series portrays three of the most powerful supernatural beings from the realms of water, earth and sky.

The orca is considered the most powerful supernatural being of the undersea realm and this SGaana Jaad (Killer Whale Woman) is a noble matriarch, a fact revealed in the labret that adorns the lower lip of her mouth that also doubles as the orca’s blowhole.

Obverse: Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The queen faces to the left, as is the tradition. The inscription reads: ELIZABETH II D ∙ G ∙ REGINA. The coin’s fields are detailed with an intricate curved criss-crossing pattern, designed as an anti-counterfeiting measure.

Reverse: An orca leaps out of water. Its features are detailed in black and red enamel, which form the likeness of a female figure drawn in the style of the Haida tribal art. The artist’s initials AW appear to the right of the whale’s dorsal fin, within the circular central frame. Wrapping around the outer perimeter of the coin is the following: CANADA, 500 Dollars, 2016.

Designer(s): Susana Blunt is a Canadian artist and coin designer. Her portrait of Queen Elizabeth has appeared on Canadian coin designs since 2003. View Designers Profile. Artist April White’s designer profile can be read here.

Coin Specifications:

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