Description

The official floral emblem of the Northwest Territories, the mountain avens (Dryas octopetala) is one of the many wildflowers that signal the arrival of spring in the Arctic. It has hit peak bloom on this fine silver coin, but don’t let those silky cream-coloured petals fool you! This member of the rose family is extremely cold hardy, with small leathery leaves and a short stem that keeps it close to the ground in rocky or wind-swept landscapes.

 KEY FEATURES:

A Canadian floral showcase: Collect all of Canada’s provincial and territorial floral emblems with this affordable 13-coin series!

A vintage style: The coin’s reverse proof finish gives it the look of vintage silver jewellery. This perfectly complements the colour portraits at the centre of our floral-themed celebration of Canada.

A history-minded approach: The 13 coins are ordered in the way each province became part of Confederation, followed by each territory.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Fits in a bezel: The 27 mm diameter allows your coin to fit in a bezel (not included), which will transform your coin into a beautiful pendant necklace.
• A new coin each month: Available for individual purchase (a new coin is issued monthly from March 2020 to March 2021) or as part of a monthly subscription that guarantees all 13 flowers will put down roots in your collection. With each subscription, you also get an exclusive graphic beauty box that will hold your 13 coins together as one complete series.
• A great gift or new addition: These beautiful coins make a great Canadian gift and they’re the perfect addition to any Canadiana-themed collection.

DID YOU KNOW?

In June 1957, the mountains avens was adopted as the official floral emblem of the Northwest Territories. A well-known botanist and explorer had recommended the species.

This northern species loves well-drained soil, but as the name suggests, you’ll also find it in rocky outcrops and alpine meadows. Its range extends across northern Canada, even in the Arctic Archipelago, and south into Alberta.

An eight-petalled beauty (hence its scientific name ‘octopetala’), the mountain avens loves the sun! The flowers turn to face the sun and follow its movement across the sky in order to maximize the rays reflecting off the petals and onto the yellow centre. This sun-oriented, directional growth is a phenomenon known as heliotropism (sunflowers do it too!).

DESIGN

The reverse design by Canadian artist Lisa Thomson-Khan features a colour portrait of the official floral emblem of the Northwest Territories, the mountain avens (Dryas octopetala), surrounded by a stylized floral pattern. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS