2022 CANADA $20 Fine Silver Coin |
Colourful Birds: Cedar Waxwing
The star of the Royal Canadian Mint's second Colourful Birds
series coin, the cedar waxwing has a distinctive appearance thanks to
its slicked-back crest, black mask and silky yellow-brown feathers. This
gregarious species loves to forage in flocks and can be found in all of
Canada’s provinces and territories. It has an appetite for insects and
small fruits, including those of the flowering crab apple tree featured
in this nature-themed coin design.
Some cedar waxwings have orange tail tips instead of the usual yellow.
This happens when a young waxwing eats a lot of berries from a specific
type of honeysuckle and the fruit’s red pigment shifts the colour of the
immature tail feathers.
See the red “drops” on the tips of its feathers? Those are actually waxy
secretions on the wing feathers, hence the “waxwing” name (the “cedar”
part refers to its love of cedar berries in the winter). It’s not clear
what purpose the wax spots serve, but some ornithologists believe
they’re related to courtship.
A lot of fruit in one place can be too much of a good thing for the
cedar waxwing! It can become intoxicated after gorging on overripe
berries and fruits.
The reverse design by Canadian artist Tony Bianco features an eye-level view of a cedar waxwing (Bombycilla ccedrorum)
in an engraved backyard setting, where a stone walkway leads to a
lattice arch. In the foreground, the soft pastel colours of the
flowering crab apple (genus Malus) tree complement the cedar
waxwing’s mix of yellow, brown, grey, white and red feathers. The
obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna
Blunt.
Specifications:
Mintage: 7,500
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Weight: 31.39 g
Diameter: 38 mm
Face Value: $20
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Tony Bianco (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)
Special Features:
• Second coin in an exciting series! A follow-up to 2021’s Blue Jay, the cedar waxwing is the star of the second Colourful Birds-themed 1 oz. 99.99% pure silver coin.
• Selective colour highlights both the bird and its flowering perch, and
transforms the design into a celebration of Mother Nature’s vibrant
colour combinations.
• An immersive scene! The eye-level view pulls you into the scene and
creates the impression that you’re standing right next to the bird.
• Limited mintage! Only 7,500 are available to collectors worldwide.
Packaging:
The coin comes encapsulated and presented in a black Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell case with a black beauty box. CoA included |
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THIS ITEM IS TAX EXEMPT IN CANADAWE DO NOT SHIP TO CHINA OR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATIONplease see shipping section for other exclusionswe will combine shipping |
Citadel Coins Halifax, Nova Scotia Official Royal Canadian Mint Distributor
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