Description

The Wolf – A Spiritual Symbol

Capture the symbol of loyalty and spirit in Extraordinarily High Relief

The Multifaceted Wolf Head by Canadian wildlife artist Claude Thivierge is the first of a 3-coin series featuring the innovative use of Extraordinarily High Relief (EHR). This technology application on coins is a World First, a daring new approach unlike anything the world of minting has ever seen before.

Going beyond High and Ultra-High Relief, EHR introduces a coin design that can elevate the subject matter to around 6 mm. It creates a striking effect, akin to that of a sculpture rather than the conventional embossing. In fact, the three-dimensionality of this unique coin is so extreme that the engravers were unable to complete it with their standard software and had to migrate to new technologies that could strike the sculpture.

On top of its distinctive shape, the Multifaceted Wolf Head is done in proof finish, giving it a mesmerizing brilliance; the 435 polygons which makes up the design reflect light from various angles, resulting in a coin that sparkles like a diamond.

The wolf as a subject matter is a distinctive, powerful symbol in Canadian history. Its role as a spiritual guide and, for some even a deity, is deeply rooted in the culture of ancestral First Nations. The wolf embodies loyalty, strength, courage, and steadfast determination. Inspiring with its piercing gaze, dense fur and remarkable hunter physique, the wolf also captivates with its social nature and likeness to mankind.

KEY SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Innovative World First coining technology. The Wolf Head features an ingenious approach to coin design. This is the first proof-quality coin struck with Extraordinarily High Relief (EHR) ̶  a new term in the world of minting. EHR is defined by an impressive relief that reaches to around 6 millimeters on a coin of only 36 millimeters in diameter and 1 oz in weight. Ultra-High Relief coins barely reach 2 millimeters of height and Standard Relief coins remain almost flat in comparison.
  • Exceptional frosting. The Wolf Head’s multiple facets, composed of 435 polygons to be exact, are crafted in proof finish to reflect light from various angles. The result is a coin that sparkles like a diamond. The highest quality proof finish combined with the EHR technique gives it an unequaled brilliance and sharpness, making it a World First coin of its kind. A lightly frosted background accentuates the sparkle of the central main design, giving its already dazzling subject even more emphasis. On the obverse, multiple light-relief facets provide similar luminous, reflective effect.
  • Unique sculpting. The exceptional three-dimensionality of Extraordinarily High Relief allows the Wolf Head to elevate mere embossing to a sculpture faithful to the anatomical proportions of an actual wolf head. The relief is so extreme and pronounced that the modeling and tooling work had to be approached in an unorthodox manner. The engravers had to adapt their normal coin modeling procedures, CNC machining strategies and tool polishing methods to accommodate such an extreme relief.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • A unique coin. Unlike any other, the multifaceted Wolf Head feels alive. The innovative EHR technology transforms the imprint into an actual model.
  • An ode to nature. Canada is known for its vast and abundant nature, often protected and well preserved. The wilderness enveloping most of our land has continuously shaped our country, our history, and our culture. The multifaceted Wolf Head highlights the connection between civilization and nature.
  • Highly detailed. Claude Thivierge, the coin’s artist, is renowned for the crisp detail in his largely animal-themed work. This prowess reflects in the quality of the multifaceted Wolf Head design, making it a striking piece of great aesthetic value.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Wolves are loyal. Once a wolf has found its mate, they typically stay together until death does them part. Wolves are known as formidable and ruthless hunters. But when it comes to their family, they exhibit unexpected tenderness. They dedicate themselves to the upbringing and the safety of their puppies.
  • Community is key. Wolves have established a complex and organized societal structure within their packs. At the top of the hierarchy, the alpha male and alpha female are usually the ones to breed. The rest of the pack communally helps raise, watch and feed the cubs.
  • Linked with man. Both humans and wolves live in complex societies. This created a bond that has evolved into what we know today as “man’s best friend”, the domesticated dog. Since the Late Paleolithic era, some wolves have been socialized and have become accustomed to life among humans, eventually leading to the emergence of dogs as pets.

DESIGN

The reverse sculpture by Claude Thivierge features a multifaceted wolf head built out of 435 polygons. The three-dimensional form protrudes from the flat coin, invoking both nature and geometry in its execution. The Extraordinarily High Relief plays an integral part of the design, introducing the coin as the first of its kind in the world – sharp, brilliant and doing away with the conventional flatness of minting.