Check out the popular & stunning Nocturnal by Nature Series!

The Mint has already produced three coins in this series, and with the sales they've been enjoying, the series is unlikely to end anytime soon.

Each coin employs a black rhodium plating to mark a striking contrast between the dark carving of classic canadian animals against the bare silver of the moon.

Swiftly travelling across Canada’s wild landscapes, the wolf (Canis lupus) makes its presence known when it releases its unmistakable howl into the night. 

The reverse design by Canadian artist Claude Thivierge travels deep into one of Canada’s forests, to catch a glimpse of a species whose haunting cry defines the call of the wild. Black rhodium plating sets the tone for a nighttime encounter in a clearing, where, viewed in three-quarter profile, Canis lupus raises its head to the sky and releases its howl into the winter night. Behind the wolf, the coin’s polished silver surface is left unplated to mimic the light of the engraved full moon, which faintly illuminates the landscape below, and the wolf from behind. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

From the edge of the Arctic tundra to the Great Lakes, the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) owns the night by using echolocation to locate its insect prey.The enhanced shine of the coin’s silver surface mimics the effect of lunar luminosity in this nocturnal setting, where a little brown bat suddenly makes its presence known overhead. The rhodium-plated hunter appears like a shadowy figure in the night thanks to a matte finish. And with moonlight spilling down across its back and outstretched wings, the bat’s engraved features are faintly visible.

Canada is home to a wide range of nocturnal animals—including the barn owl (Tyto alba), whose acute senses and secretive ways make it one of nature’s most efficient night-time hunters. The reverse design by Canadian artist Jamie Desrochers features a contemporary stylized depiction of a barn owl (Tyto alba) descending upon its prey, as viewed from the ground looking up at the night sky. In the background, the creative use of black rhodium plating serves as a stunning backdrop for this night-time scene; detailed engraving re-creates the cratered surface of the full moon, which is brought to life through the use of bold frosting peering through the dark plating. 

Check out these spectacular coins in-store or online, and keep an eye out for coming entries in the series!