20 Dollars - Elizabeth II Snowy Owls

Reverse

Designed by Claude Thivierge, your coin combines two different art styles for a unique take on an enigmatic avian species. A colourful sunset provides the only hint of warmth in this colour-over-engraved winter scene, where the sky is ablaze with orange and yellow hues. The open field conveys a sense of stillness as the landscape slumbers beneath its snow cover, whereengraved relief adds textural details that mimic rolling drifts and mounds. The only sense of movement comes from two enigmatic snowy owls, which are comprised of polygon shapes that define the low poly art style. Suddenly, one of the owls takes flight; flying close to the ground, the owl’s outstretched wings create the illusion of movement as it seemingly “shatters” the boundaries of the image and its geometric form, and smoothly transitions from abstract to realism. The word “CANADA”, the face value “20 DOLLARS” and the year “2018” are engraved along the rim that frames much of the reverse image.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
2018 CANADA
20 DOLLARS
CT

Designer: Claude Thivierge

Edge

Serrated

Comment

With its thick, snow-white plumage, the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a hauntingly beautiful ambassador for our northerly climate. This yellow-eyed bird is well adapted to Canadian winters from coast to coast, with an extended summer range that may include the extreme landscapes of the Arctic Archipelago. Resilient, enigmatic and ever watchful, the snowy owl delights even the most casual observer as it casually perches on posts, signs or trees—any spot with a good view of its surroundings so that it might easily spy its prey or take flight. This is your second coin in your captivating Geometric Fauna series! Like the grey wolf on the first coin, one snowy owl shatters the image’s boundaries and breaks free ofits geometric form, while transitioning to a more life-like appearance.

Did you know…
Since 1987, the Snowy Owl has enjoyed special status as the provincial bird emblem of Quebec.
The Snowy Owl has nomadic tendencies: Researchers tracked the movements of young owls from their nest on Victoria Island; they discovered one had flown to Hudson Bay, another to southeastern Ontario, and another had flown west to the Russian coast!
This large and heavy owl has excellent vision day and night—a necessary adaptation to live and hunt in the land of the midnight sun. Its cat-like eyes are similar in size and weight to our own, but they cannot move freely in their sockets; instead, the owl is able to turn its head 270 degrees in either direction.
It can sit in the same spot for hours, just waiting for any hint of prey. Its acute vision and extraordinary hearing allows the owl to pick up on the faintest movements, even if its quarry lies beneath the snow, before flying or running over to pounce on it.

Packaging:
Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a graphic beauty box.

Interesting fact

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
2018	6000	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 20 Dollars - Elizabeth II (Snowy Owls) 2018 coin.