1/2 oz. Pure Silver Coloured Coin - Iconic Canada: Spring Sightings (2017)

Once winter eases its hold, there's a sense of renewed activity across the landscape as the warming air seems to draw one and all out of our winter cover. This is a season of new beginnings for much of our flora and fauna. In the forests, where tall trees filter the sun's warming rays, the wet snow slowly retreats to reveal grasses, sedges and winter cereals — they are the first green growth of early spring, which bring a welcome splash of colour to our surroundings and relief to hungry grazing species such as the deer.

• PICTURE-PERFECT SCENE! The use of full colour over engraving creates a beautifully textured depiction of an enchanting encounter in a Canadian forest!
• INCLUDES SERIALIZED CERTIFICATE: The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins. Most of these are serialized certifications, meaning that each certificate is given a unique number, starting at 1.
• 99.99% PURE SILVER! 
• GST/HST exempt with a limited worldwide mintage.

Through the use of colour over engraving, Canadian artist Silvia Pecota conveys the uplifting splendour of a spring day in the Canadian wilderness. You can almost hear the sound of each footstep in the puddles of melting snow, as you are pulled into the tranquil forest setting. In this small opening among the still-leafless trees, a herd of deer find refuge while grazing for the new growth of grasses and sedges that were previously buried beneath the snow. The grey-brown pelage of a deer in the foreground pulls the viewer into a curious exchange of gazes with this graceful woodland creature—a surprise encounter that will surely lift the mood of any winter-weary soul!

• Canada is home to five deer (Cervidae) species: the moose, the caribou, the wapiti, and the two most common deer: the white-tailed and mule deer.
• The males of all five Canadian species are famously antlered, although the bony growth is shed and regrown annually.
• Deer are grazers, and their diet adapts with the seasons. In winter and early spring, they'll forage for  new grasses and sedges; in the summer, woody plants, herbs, mushrooms and berries enrich their diet. Twigs, buds, grain piles and acorns help sustain them in the autumn, when they prepare for the fall rut and the approach of winter.
• To get through the cold Canadian winter, a deer's surplus fat can provide it with a source of energy—especially when severe winter conditions make it difficult to find grasses in areas with less snow cover.
• Small forest openings are beneficial for deer! More sunlight allows for new growth on the forest floor, while the canopy of surrounding trees provides shelter from harsh winds and heavy precipitation.

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a black beauty box.

Order today!