Canada 2015 $20 American Scimitar Sabre-Tooth Cat 1 oz. 99.99% Pure Silver Coin

SKU# OK144428E

Canada 2015 $20 American Scimitar Sabre-Tooth Cat 1 oz. 99.99% Pure Silver Coin

Prehistoric Animals Series

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Specifications

Composition - gold (99.99% pure)

Finish - proof

Weight (g) - 31.39 (1 troy ounce)

Diameter (mm) - 38

Edge - serrated

Certificate - serialized (serial numbers will vary)

Face value - 20 dollars (a legal tender Canadian coin)

Artists - Julius Csotonyi (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Description

The scimitar cat (Homotherium serum) is arguably one of the most awe-inspiring animals of the Ice Age.  Famous for its knife-like fangs, the scimitar cat's teeth were shorter than those of the better known sabre-tooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, but were equally lethal: its sabres were coarsely serrated, just like a steak knife, making them perfectly suited for slicing through the soft flesh of its prey. 

This fierce feline was a master at pursuing prey, which consisted of ungulates such as horses and camels.  The scimitar cat would charge from behind a bush or tall grasses with blinding swiftness, bowl over its intended prey and slash the throat with its lethal canines.  Then, once the uproar subsided, the cat dragged its latest meal to its den.

It was roughly the size of a lion, but with a lighter body that gave it more running flexibility than its Ice Age cousins, other sabre-tooth cats, and the American lion.  It had a short tail like a lynx, and long, powerful forelimbs but slightly shorter hind legs that gave it a hyena-like stance.

This fascinating cat ranged from Beringia, a prehistoric grassland region stretching from Siberia to Alaska, which was too dry for glaciers, all the way to southern North America by way of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Alberta. Having gone extinct sometime between 13,000 and 11,000 years ago, the scimitar cat's demise was likely linked to the extinction of the large Ice Age herbivores.

Special features:

• To ensure a high degree of scientific accuracy, the design of this coin was verified by palaeontologists of the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta. 
• Unmatched detail is achieved through the technically demanding application of multiple finishes:  highlights shine and shadows deepen while the depth and texture of the scimitar's facial features are enhanced.
• For our Canadian customers, this coin is GST/HST exempt.

About the Design:

Canadian artist Julius Csotonyi has crafted a heart-stopping portrait of a roaring scimitar cat, with its mouth open wide as it bares its lethal teeth and scimitars. The details are exquisite: luxurious fur, piercing eyes, razor-sharp teeth and a roughly textured tongue are all beautifully rendered with finely detailed engraving.

Packaging:

Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clam-shell case protected by a custom beauty box.

Shipping & Handling

Fast, free shipping to all U.S. addresses via USPS First Class Mail.  USPS Priority Mail & Priority Mail Express are also available for an additional charge.