The predator vs. prey relationship between the Arctic fox and the Arctic hare takes center stage in a new 4-coin gold series from the Royal Canadian Mint. The series debuts with the first coin depicting a traditional wildlife portrait of an Arctic fox.
It is available separately or as part of a subscription that includes all four program coins. Priced at CAD $79.95, or about US $60, each coin from the Predator vs. Prey series is composed of 0.5 grams of 99.99% pure gold and is struck in collector proof quality.
The series is a "tribute to two remarkable species that have adapted to their extreme Arctic environment to fulfill their special roles as guardians of nature’s balance," the Royal Canadian Mint describes on its website.
The complete series features the following four coins that will be released in intervals throughout 2016:
- 2016 50c Traditional Arctic Fox Gold Coin (this first release)
- 2016 50c Traditional Arctic Hare Gold Coin (ships May 2016)
- 2016 50c Inuit Arctic Fox Gold Coin (ships September 2016)
- 2016 50c Inuit Arctic Hare Gold Coin (ships November 2016)
Traditional Arctic Fox Coin Design and Specifications
Canadian artist Pierre Leduc created the reverse (tails side) design showcased on the 2016 50c Traditional Arctic Fox Gold Coin. It offers a side-profile view of an Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) along with the inscriptions of CANADA, 2016 and the legal tender face value of 25 CENTS.
Shown on obverses (heads side) of program coins is Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Obverse inscriptions read ELIZABETH II and D G REGINA.
Specifications for the gold coins, as provided by the Royal Canadian Mint, are:
- Mintage: 6,500
- Composition: 99.99% pure gold
- Finish: proof
- Weight (g): 0.5
- Diameter (mm): 11
- Edge: serrated
- Certificate: serialized
- Face value: 25 cents
- Reverse Artist: Pierre Leduc (traditional fox coin), various artists for remainder program coins
- Obverse Artist: Susanna Blunt
Ordering
The individual Arctic Fox coin and four-coin subscription may be ordered directly from the Royal Canadian Mint at mint.ca. Here are affiliate links to the Mint’s gold coin and 4-coin subscription
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The subscription option includes a four-coin display case that ships with the third coin. This case offers a built-in magnified display to enhance the detail of each coin.
Darrin Lee Unser –
Thanks for the update on these small but cute “button” gold coins as collectors call them. Your article headline & first photo tagline are misspelled as “Artic” instead of “Arctic.”
-NumisDudeTX