- Country:Canada
- Collection:Silver Commemorative $50
- Metal:Silver
- Year:2018
- Denomination:$50
- Finish:Complete
- Weight (oz):5.07
- Purity:0.9999
- Mintage:588
- Product type:Coin
UNIQUE! Each polar bear hand-carved from soapstone! Order today!
In a landscape carved by ice and wind, the polar bear remains the unchallenged titan of the North. To those who have long inhabited the region, nanuq represents more than survival-it is a powerful cultural figure steeped in tradition. Legends and art speak of the polar bear's might and wisdom as a link between spiritual and natural worlds, while its unmistakable profile lends itself beautifully to sculptured works of art that capture the true essence of life on and around the Arctic ice.
A gorgeous coin you will admire again and again! Order today!
Special features:
TRADITIONAL SOAPSTONE SCULPTURE! Introducing an unforgettable coin that pairs a traditional soapstone sculpture with contemporary coin-making techniques!
HAND-CARVED BY CANADIAN ARTIST DAVE ZACHARY! Rising up on the coin, each polar bear sculpture is carefully hand-carved from Canadian soapstone by Canadian artist Dave Zachary and his team of sculptors, making each coin unique as each polar bear is not quite identical.
TRANSLUCENT COLOUR ENAMEL! Engraving recreates the rough edges of the ice on your coin, while translucent colour enamel adds a deep blue hue to the Arctic waters.
WIDE COIN DIAMETER! With a 65.25 mm diameter, the coin's surface provides a large base for the soapstone sculpture, while proof-quality 99.99% pure silver mimics the light-reflective nature of the Arctic landscape!
SAFELY PROTECTED! A dome-like capsule keeps your coin safely protected from the elements.
INCLUDES SERIALIZED CERTIFICATE! The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.
5 OZ. 99.99% PURE SILVER COIN! Your coin has no GST/HST!
LIMITED MINTAGE: Only 1,300 coins will be made worldwide!
Design:
The natural beauty of Northern Canada shines bright on your coin, thanks to a harmonious mix of finishing techniques and a polar bear soapstone sculpture that makes each coin unique. As it does forArctic marine life, ice floe provides the foundation for this design: engraving provides a life-like textural effect, while a special frosting gives thesnow-covered ice a more matte-like appearance. The surrounding water is a sparkling shade of blue, thanks to the application of translucent enamel over the proof finish. But the focal point is undeniably the sculptured piece that rises up from the ice floe: each polar bear sculpture has been hand-carved from Canadian soapstone by Canadian artist Dave Zachary and his team of sculptors. With its gaze fixed onwhat lies ahead, the polar bear cuts a formidable figure in this Arctic landscape, where it is regarded as an icon of strength and endurance.
Did you knowÃ
The polar bear is uniquely adapted for life at the topof the world, with thick white fur that provides both protection and camouflage. More than half of the world's polar bear population can be found in areas along Canada's northern coastline-from James Bay up to the Arctic Archipelago, and from the Yukon's coastline to that of Newfoundland and Labrador. This immense bear spends most of its life on the sea ice that is vital to the Arctic marine environment; but as its scientific name implies, Ursus maritimus is a natural swimmer, and won't shy away from plunging into the water to get from one icy platform to another.
Soapstone is a softer grade of rock that can have a greasy, soap-like feel to the touch-hence its name.
A metamorphic rock, it is largely composed of talc mixed with other minerals that cause variations in hues and markings, including pyrite crystals that can add flecks of gold!
The first Canadian production of soapstone was in 1871,in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Today, itis found in many provinces, and in some localities throughout the North.
