Description
Yet another stunning example of Canadian wildlife design work is available from the Royal Canadian Mint with the release of two reverse-proof coins featuring the Great Horned Owl. These dated coins are available in fractional-ounce silver and gold coins for sale.
Coin Highlights:
- 5th design in the Animal Portrait Series!
- Beautiful reverse-proof specimens!
- Depicts the tiger of the air!
- Contains 1/4 Troy oz of .9999 pure gold.
- Bears a face value of $10 (CAD) backed by the federal government of Canada.
- On the obverse is Queen Elizabeth II.
- The reverse features the steely gaze of the Great Horned Owl.
- Owl design from Denis Mayer Jr.
Each 1/4 oz Canadian Gold Great Horned Owl Reverse Proof Coin available here is a new design from the Royal Canadian Mint capturing the native wildlife of North America. The Great Horned Owl has previously featured the Royal Canadian Mints Birds of Prey and Reverse Proof Birds of Prey Series of bullion coins. These Gold Great Horned Owl coins ship inside plastic flips, sheets of 20 coins, or boxes for multiples of 800 coins. The new Canadian Great Horned Owl is a reverse-proof specimen with mirrored design elements overlaying a frosted background field.
The Great Horned Owl is also known as the tiger owl. This secondary name comes from the descriptions of early naturalists who encountered the bird in the wild. The coloration of the feathers on some Great Horned Owls bears a resemblance to the patterns on a tigers coat. This gave rise to the use of the term winged tiger when referencing the bird, which some later altered further in referring to the hunting prowess of the owl by calling it the tiger of the air.
On the obverse of Canadian Gold Great Horned Owl Reverse Proof Coins is a depiction of Queen Elizabeth II. This long-running design has been in use on Canadian coins since 2003 and was created by Susanna Blunt. In addition to being the longest-running effigy of the Queen on Canadian coins, it is the only one of her reign to date to lack a crown on her head.
The reverse side of 1/4 oz Gold Great Horned Owl Reverse Proof Coins comes with an image of the impressive aerial predator. The birds steely gaze is captured in this close-up design that focuses in on the face. The nickname Great Horned for the owl refers to the two clusters of tall feathers that mimic ears or horns on the bird.
