Third and final coin in the beautiful 'Animal Architects' series!
Specifications
Maximum Mintage – 10,000 (only 5,571 sold in 2014)
Composition – fine silver (99.99% pure)
Strike Type – proof
Finish – color
Weight (g) – 7.96 (1/4 troy oz.)
Diameter (mm) – 27
Edge – serrated
Certificate – serialized (serial numbers will vary)
Face value – 3 dollars (a legal tender Canadian coin)
Artists – Trevor Tennant (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)
Description
Few metamorphoses are as dramatic as the one experienced by the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), a welcome sight during the summer across the many regions of Canada and the USA. Its beautifully patterned black and orange wings easily make the species one of the most recognizable butterflies found in North America. However, this iconic form is only attained during the final stage of its life cycle, after it sheds its brightly striped caterpillar form and develops within the safety of the chrysalis that encases it.
The process begins when the caterpillar spins a silk pad on the underside of a milkweed (Asclepias) leaf and attaches its hind claspers to it. Now suspended with its head facing downwards, the caterpillar's life depends on the strength of this attachment. Twisting around, the caterpillar sheds its skin to reveal a moist exoskeleton that hardens to a waxy, green-colored coating. The chrysalis darkens and becomes transparent over the course of 9 to 15 days, during which time the pupa develops inside. The butterfly soon emerges (after approximately 10 days with a little assistance from gravity as it pushes down and outwards to split the chrysalis. Now free, the butterfly will rest on its former enclosure while expanding its wings in preparation for its first flight.
Did you know…
· Many think of a butterfly chrysalis as a "cocoon" but this isn't accurate – a chrysalis is made of protein (like the caterpillar's skin) while a cocoon is made of silk and is often associated with moths.
· The milkweed (Asclepias) is both home and a food source for the Monarch caterpillar. It will eat nothing but milkweed leaves day and night until it becomes a chrysalis, and then will not eat again until it emerges as an adult butterfly. The milkweed also protects the Monarch – its toxins build up in the caterpillar's system, meaning the Monarch will be poisonous to many predators for the rest of its life!
A striking addition to any insect-, Canadiana-, or nature-themed collection, or those featuring color and photo-image designs.
Special features:
· This coin is the third and final coin in the Royal Canadian Mint’s animal architects series.
· Selective coloring on this coin brings to life the beautiful bright colors of the Monarch caterpillar, as well as the green tones of the milkweed leaf it both inhabits and feasts upon.
· The detailed rendition of the Monarch's chrysalis exemplifies the Royal Canadian Mint's renowned artistry and craftsmanship.
· Crafted from fine silver (99.99% pure), this coin features a beautiful mirror-like proof finish.
· Makes a beautiful gift for nature lovers.
· Limited worldwide mintage.
Design:
Designed by Canadian artist Trevor Tennant, the coin features a beautifully detailed side profile of a Monarch caterpillar. Selective color application showcases the caterpillar's bright yellow, black and white stripes as it crawls along a bright green milkweed leaf – a plant that plays an integral part in the Monarch's early life cycles. A large chrysalis is engraved in the background as a reminder of the Monarch's next stage, at which time it will enclose itself during its metamorphosis into one of Canada's, and North America’s, most recognizable butterflies.
Packaging:
Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a black beauty box.
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