2015 Canadian $20 Forests of Canada: Boreal Balsam Poplar - 1 oz Fine Silver Coin

2015 Canadian $20 Forests of Canada: Boreal Balsam Poplar - 1 oz Fine Silver Coin

Face Value: $20
Mintage: 8,500
Composition: 99.99% Silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Finish: Proof

With permafrost to the north, deserts to the south, and an ever-changing geography from coast to coast, Canada is home to an amazing array of forests, each with its own distinct flora and fauna.

Canada's Boreal forest is immense, swinging in an arc from the Rocky Mountains and the Alaskan border, down across the top of the Great Lakes, and back up to northern Newfoundland and Labrador. As it extends north, it becomes increasingly thinner with fewer species until it reaches the tundra where no tree grows at all.

The Boreal forest is what typically comes to mind when people think of Canada—a wall of conifer trees covered with snow. And while conifers do dominate the landscape, the Boreal forest does have a smattering of deciduous trees daring enough to take on its harsh environment. One of them is the Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera), one of Canada's hardiest deciduous trees. No other North American hardwood grows this far north. And while the Balsam Poplar does well among the conifers, it prefers open areas near water.

A beautiful gift for someone who enjoys unique forests!

Special features:
Fourth issue in this exciting series that explores the diversity and beauty of Canada's forests.
A stunning visual essay on Canadian flora!
An original gift for nature lovers and tree-appreciators across Canada from coast to coast who are proud of the great Boreal forest that defines their nation by braving the harsh environment of the North. Scene will captivate hikers and mountain climbers as well.
Expertly crafted in 99.99% pure silver with selective colour to showcase the Balsam Poplar and its springtime catkins beautifully crafted in red.
Your coin is GST/HST exempt and has a limited mintage worldwide.

Design:
Designed by Canadian artist Margaret Best, your coin features the mountainous western reach of the boreal forest with a Balsam Poplar in the foreground growing in its preferred habitat—an open space near water. Only a single branch is visible in this design, and it is beautifully crafted in colour to highlight the textural qualities of the tree's bark, its emerging springtime buds and the delicate colouration of its red catkins. These drooping, cylinder-shaped flower clusters are designed for cross-pollination. Male flowers are red while female flowers are yellow, much larger, and grow on separate trees.

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