Gold Coin Celebrating Canada's Diversity: Knowledge and Connections 1 Oz 2023 Proof

Celebrating Canada's Diversity: Knowledge and Interconnection

An exclusive gold coin featuring a natural seashell, issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2023 in Proof quality of the purest 99.99% gold, weighing 1 Oz (31.16 g), brings a fourth tribute to the cultural diversity and history of the Canadian people. Through organically modeled elements, it expresses the knowledge and connections gained from the heritage of the Haida ethnic group living on the islands off the coast of British Columbia.
The centrepiece of the coin is a living gem of the oceans created from a rainbow shell. The blue-green shell recalls the changing waters and symbolizes the Haida people's inextricable connection to the sea and its resources. The shell is responsibly sourced and its varied annealing makes each coin a unique specimen.

The reverse of the coin was designed by Canadian art carver Cori Savard (Yahl 'Aadaas), who specializes in Haida art and lives permanently on the Haida Gwaii archipelago. She uses rounded contours in the style of woodcarving characteristic of Haida art. The ovoid shapes on the outer circle represent the eyes of the elders and knowledge holders who oversee the younger generations, represented on the inner circle. The individual elements compose a circle without end or beginning, flowing into each other like the interconnectedness of all living things. They express "waadlu x an gud ad kwaagid" (everything depends on everything else) in the spirit of the philosophy and beliefs of the local community. The design is linked by two cedar rope style rings. They thus connect generations, between which experience, values and respect for traditional ways of life are passed on. The Proof design enhances the reflections of the shell and the bold lines of the embossing. The motif is marked by the artist's initials "CS".
The shell and cedar are intrinsic to Haida life, culture and beliefs. Shellfish were a popular part of the diet, hunted with a double-headed spear attached to a long cedar pole. The colour of the outer shell reflected the shellfish's diet of seaweed. The mother-of-pearl on the inner layer was used to decorate ceremonial dresses and art objects. Cedar wood was used to make everyday items and objects with ceremonial purposes, whether they were items of clothing, tools, baskets, canoes, or dwellings.

The obverse bears a traditional portrait of Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, accompanied by the years of the monarch's reign "1952 .... 2022". The four pearls incorporated into the year symbolizes the four likenesses of the monarch that have adorned Canadian coins. The description of the coin lists the inscriptions "ELIZABETH II", "CANADA 2023", "D.G.REGINA" and the face value "200 DOLLARS".

The coin comes in a gift box along with a numbered certificate of authenticity, in a limited edition of 275 pieces for the entire world!

This product is part of the following product sets: