Royal Canadian Mint

25 dollars

31,83 g

40 mm

Silver 999,9°

7500 pcs.

Proof finish with glow in the dark technology

Cyril Assiniboine, Saulteux Ojibwa

Royal Canadian Mint

The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. The Royal Canadian Mint’s first silver glow-in-the-dark coin combines colour with photoluminescent technology to create an original take on the First Nations traditions of storytelling and art. The reverse features members of the Plains Ojibwa band as they prepare to slay a great bear; vibrant colours capture the night sky’s glow and recreate the traditional Saulteaux dress, weaponry, face painting and ceremonial shield. The coin’s silver surface is also cleverly incorporated into the design, lending a natural shine to four of the stars. Exposing the coin to light then plunging it into darkness reveals seven glow-in-the-dark stars that shine almost as brightly as the Big Dipper on a clear night.

In this second of a four-coin series, Western Ojibwa artist Cyril Assiniboine has brought to life a First Nations legend of the Big Dipper’s origins. Three hunters relentlessly pursue a great bear that is killing all the animals, tracking it across the earth for many moons and finally up into the sky. The selective application of the Royal Canadian Mint’s photoluminescent technology adds an ethereal quality to this one-of-a-kind coin, which stands as a remarkable example of a unique cultural story told through magnificent traditional artwork and contemporary techniques. The coin was minted and launched in 2014 and is intended for the next year.