- Country:Canada
- Collection:Silver Commemorative $20
- Metal:Silver
- Year:2013
- Denomination:$20
- Finish:Complete
- Weight (oz):1.009
- Purity:0.9999
- Mintage:7973
- Product type:Coin
One of the first fossil discoveries to capture the Canadian imagination was that of the Bathygnathus borealis-found in 1845 near New London, Prince Edward Island. It wasn't until 1905 that the bonewas correctly identified as part of the upper jaw of a sphenacodontid, a family of "pelycosaur-grade" mammal-like reptiles or synapsids, animals that livedfrom the Late Pennsylvanian to middle Permian ages.Based on similarities of the jaw bones, experts nowbelieve that the specimen could actually belong to the sail-back Dimetrodon or a similar animal, although fossil evidence of a sail has yet to be found. IfBathygnathus was similar to Dimetrodon, the large "sail" on its back could have helped regulate its body temperature.
Despite its early misidentification, this fossil is of great scientific and historical significance-it lived between290 and 260 million years ago, when what is now P.E.I. lay near the equator.
This realistic non-novelty coin is the first of a series on dinosaurs discovered in Canada. With a limited mintage of 8,500, make sure you order your coin before they sell out!
Special features
¥ NEW SERIES: coins to feature lifelike prehistoric animals and dinosaurs discovered inCanada.
¥ Your coin displays an exceptional engraving of a full, non-skeletal, lifelike portrait ofthe Bathygnathus borealis.
¥ Struck in 99.99% pure silver-GST/HST exempt.
¥ Limited mintage of 8,500.
Design
Designed by Canadian artist Julius Csotonyi, your coindisplays a depiction of the Bathygnathus borealis, scientifically verified by the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Depicted hereas similar to Dimetrodon, the mammal-like reptile bares its long, sharp teeth as its powerful, low-slung body walks. From the animal's back rises one of the key Dimetrodon features: the tall, spiny, skin-covered dorsal sail used to regulate body temperature. The reverse is engraved with the words "CANADA," the date "2013" and the face value of "20 DOLLARS."
