2016 $50 FINE SILVER COIN - MYTHICAL REALMS OF THE HAIDA SERIES: THE ORCA

Haida artist April White—SGaana Jaad of the Yahqu’iaanaas Raven Clan—has created a mesmerizing image of an orca leaping out of the water. Look closely and you will see a female form hidden beneath the orca “cloak.” She is using her arms and legs in the orca’s fins and tail to propel herself forward. Her shoulder is situated directly beneath the orca’s eye, and her black hair is flowing along its back, echoed in the orca’s black ribs. The ethereal essence of the scene is further enhanced by the silhouette of a full moon created by the circular outline of the design. The orca is considered the most powerful supernatural being of the undersea realm and this SGaana Jaad (Killer Whale Woman) is a noble matriarch, a fact that is revealed in the labret that adorns the lower lip of her mouth that also doubles as the orca’s blowhole.

 

An original and upscale keepsake for art collectors and anyone who has ever travelled to the Pacific Northwest and been captivated by these remote islands and the rich cultural heritage of the Haida people.