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An industrious bumblebee rests on a vibrantly colored aster on this oversized, crown-size color quarter!

The North American species of Aster are flowering perennial herbs usually bearing striking blue, mauve, pink, or white flowers. These lovely plants share an important symbiosis with bumblebees: the bees are one of the asters’ key pollinators and for many bumble bees, aster pollen is a major food source. Asters are also easy to grow and thus a great choice for American and Canadian gardeners. This oversized, full color quarter brilliantly captures the relationship between insect and flower!

The Bumblebee, Nature's Canny Cultivator
It is one of summer’s iconic moments: a buzzing black-and-yellow bumblebee plods heavily from delicate bloom to delicate bloom. A subgroup of the roughly 730 described species of bees (Apoidea: Anthophila) in Canada, bumble bees (genus Bombus), native to the Americas as well as Europe, Asia, and North Africa, are important pollinators crucial to the ongoing survival of many flowering plants.

Bumble bees in particular engage in a practice known as “buzz pollination,” where, clutching a flower’s stamen with their jaws, they rapidly vibrate their wing muscles, loosening and scattering pollen.

Bumble bees are among the most resilient types of bees and prefer temperate climates. Because they are generalists, gathering nectar and pollen from a wide variety of flowers (up to 20 flowers per minute), it is somewhat easier for them to survive environmental changes. Nevertheless, like many bees, they are threatened by factors such as habitat loss, parasites, and pathogens. Luckily, anyone can help to support and attract bumble and other bee populations by planting a variety of native flowering plants.

Technology Note
The RCM leads the world with its proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The intricate detail, smooth gradients, and extreme precision of the technology create a stunning, full-color portrait on each coin.

The Specimen Finish
This coin features the uniquely-Canadian "specimen" finish, a three-fold combination of different finishes. The design (raised area or relief) includes both frosted and mirrored surfaces, while the fields (background) are subtly striated, resulting in a contrasting, matte appearance. No other mint in the world employs the specimen finish.

Obverse
A bumblebee rests on an aster flower blossom, both rendered in vibrant color by the Royal Canadian Mint's proprietary colorization technology. The date of issue and denomination are both indicated.

Reverse
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian Coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God") also appears.

The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer sleeve. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included.

Specifications