In Stock and Ready for Immediate Shipment!Long SOLD OUT at the Royal Canadian Mint! *Check out these other great 2013 O Canada Series coins and sets! Pure Gold Proofs Beaver 1/10 Oz Gold Polar Bear 1/10 Oz Gold Multi-Coin Proof Sets in Solid Wood Display Cases Complete 12-Coin $10 Pure Silver Proof Set Complete Wildlife 5-Coin $25 Pure Silver Proof Set Pure Silver $10 Matte Proofs - Wildlife Wolf Beaver Caribou Polar Bear Pure Silver $10 Matte Proofs - Canadian Icons Niagara Falls Maple Leaves Inuit Inukshuk Summer Fun at the Lake RCMP Mountie - Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pure Silver $25 Proofs - Wildlife Wolf Beaver Caribou Polar Bear Get this second in the new and affordable Oh! Canada Series of pure silver proofs that celebrate 12 iconic touchstones of, and all that is great about, Canada! Celebrate Canada’s uniqueness with the Oh! Canada program! Canada's national identity is much like its majestic landscape: diverse, storied, and always fascinating! In the ever-changing world of Canadiana, a few concepts tend to reflect the nation’s natural assets and social and cultural institutions. Born of this complex background, these twelve Canadian icons are undeniable touchstones of the majestic land, its wildlife, people and spirit. These are the scenes that plumb the depths of Canada's own pride in itself, while kindling the world's love for the great nation that is Canada! Collect these twelve eminently affordable pure silver proofs - then revisit your coins again and again to marvel at their cultural significance and detailed imagery! A Highly Detailed, Original Work of Art! This second release in the new O Canada series features a meticulously rendered design by Canadian artist Pierre Leduc: a portrait of a beaver felling a birch tree. The beaver, viewed from the front with its head turned toward the right side of the coin, rises from the hard work of chopping at the birch trunk with its prominent incisors. Its two clawed forepaws and webbed hind paws are visible, and its tail is partially visible as it counterbalances the beaver’s weight from behind. The birch trunk, sufficiently chopped, has just begun the process of falling, the woodchips resulting from the beaver’s industrious task scattered at the nearly felled tree’s base. The distinct design hallmark of the O Canada series has the central image set between two semi-circular banners (each laser polished to a gleaming, mirror-like finish) with the top band proudly proclaiming the legend “Canada”, and the denomination in the lower band. Canada's First Currency! "Busy as a beaver" refers to the hardworking and industrious nature of this furry critter. Along with the Mountie and the maple leaf, the beaver is considered one of the three iconic symbols of Canada. It's not widely remembered today, but during the 1830s and '40s there was a fashion craze in Europe for beaver-fur hats. This provided the livelihood for the fur-trapping mountain men (voyageurs), who sold them to fur companies. These groups, including the Hudson Bay Company, in turn shipped millions of beaver pelts across the Atlantic - so many, in fact, the the beaver grew scarce and was endangered. Fortunately, the fashion died out in time for the beaver to be saved, allowing it to continue to dam streams and create new habitat for many other creatures. When trappers would bring their furs to the trading posts, something was needed to represent the value of the pelts. At first, everything from porcupine quills, ivory discs and bits of wood or bone were used - anything that that the trapper and merchant agreed upon. As the industry became more sophisticated, trade tokens began to appear. As the two parties went through the furs, tokens would be placed on the counter. Once done, the trapper would use them to purchase goods from the store. Some trade tokens were square. Others featured the prize of the fur trade that also reigns as one of Canada's earliest forms of currency - the beaver! A symbol of early Canadian frontier life, the beaver building a dam was featured on the very first Canadian postage stamp in 1851! To this day, the beaver is featured on the Canadian 5 cents (nickel) coin! Technology Note The Royal Canadian Mint refines the purest silver in the world. The RCM is also the only mint in the world to issue commemorative coins in a .9999 fineness. This silver proof coin is 99.99% pure! ObverseA meticulously detailed and finely engraved detail of an adult beaver, felling a tree. The artistry is so subtle and intricate that the individual hairs on the beaver's fur coat can be clearly distinguished under a loupe. The traditional-style engraving has produced a magnificent work of beauty. The date and denomination are also 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. Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside a burgundy leatherette, clamshell-style presentation case, lined with black velvet and protected by a black outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. A solid maple wood display case for the entire 12 coin series will be available to purchasers of the entire series one quarter to halfway through the releases. Specifications Country Canada Year of Issue 2013 Face Value 10 Dollars Weight 15.87 g Diameter 34 mm Mintage Limit 40,000 Finish Matte Proof Composition .9999 Fine (Pure) Silver Edge Reeded (milled, serrated) Artist Tony Bianco Certificate Individually Numbered Complete Certificate Text O Canada Canada’s national identity is much like its majestic landscape: diverse, storied, and sometimes elusive. In the ever-changing tectonics of Canadian culture, identifiers tend to reflect the nation’s multicultural nature and its geography, fauna and flora, and social and political institutions. Born of this complex background, Canadian icons are distinct because they carry meaning for all Canadians, regardless of where we live or how we came to be here. These are the images that plumb the depths of Canadian pride and kindle Canadians’ love for their home. Canada’s Animal Avatar: The Beaver No other animal has affected Canadian history more than Castor canadensis. By the late 17th century, European explorers had already come to realize that North America was not the sought-after Orient. What they found, instead, was a wealth of land and natural resources. European fashions of the time used fur heavily and beaver-fur hats were extremely popular. Recognizing the opportunity to boost their economies, both England and France established burgeoning fur routes between Europe and Canadian settlements that stretched into the heart of the North American continent. The beaver pelt industry proved lucrative in the centuries that followed and beavers became so central to the financial success of firms like the Hudson’s Bay Company that these organizations began to acknowledge the humble animal on their coats of arms and other identifiers. These are the earliest instances of the beaver’s emergence as a Canadian icon. In the three centuries that followed, the beaver has become a well-known symbol of Canada and Canadian unity. It appears in the coats of arms of a number of Canadian cities and provinces, was the image portrayed on the first Canadian postage stamp (1851), is on the crest of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, was the mascot of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and has appeared on the reverse of Canadian circulation 5-Cent pieces (nickels) since 1937. In 1975, it was recognized by Parliament as “a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada.” Over-hunting nearly eradicated the beaver toward the end of the 19th century, but with declining demand for beaver fur, governments began protecting this unique animal. In the years that have followed, we have come to known a great deal more about one of the nation’s most amazing animal residents. The largest rodent in North America (a large beaver can weigh up to 32 kilograms and measure more than a metre long, including its 30-centimetre tail) is amazingly well adapted for its habitat. Its large incisors are sharp enough to cut down more than 200 trees, measuring up to 40 centimetres each, per year. Its large, leathery, paddle-like tail is famous, acting as a rudder in the water and a counterbalance on land. But the beaver’s lesser-known adaptations are equally amazing. Beavers’ eyes are protected underwater thanks to transparent membranes that cover its eyes. Its nostrils and ears completely close underwater. It uses its large, webbed hind feet for swimming and its small, dexterous forepaws, which are not webbed but have long sharp claws, for everything from lodge, dam, food cache, and canal construction to delicate digging, plucking, and carrying of sticks, rocks, and mud. Its hind feet bear plier-like double claws on the second toe, which the beaver uses for grooming—essential for spreading oils that keep its dense fur waterproof. Found throughout Canada from the 49th parallel to the Arctic Ocean, the Canadian beaver prefers forested and unforested areas with water courses bordered by deciduous trees and shrubs. A Canadian Icon The iconic image of the beaver reaches back to Canada’s earliest roots. This resilient animal, unmatched except by humans for its ability to manipulate the land to its own ends, symbolizes the wealth of resources and innovation that have allowed Canada to evolve from a fur-trading outpost to a sovereign nation. The beaver’s persistence, penchant for hard work, and adaptability are qualities that Canadians hold dear. Copyright © 2024 Talisman World Coins and Medals. All Rights Reserved.