Canadian Wildlife 2/3: Annual gold series features animal portraits starting with the Cougar

The second of our three-article look at Canada’s new wildlife coins features the rarest and least affordable of the offerings. A new annual series called Canadian Wildlife Portraits will showcase some of the amazing, larger animals that inhabit the often harsh environments of this Northern land. First up is the Cougar, and the almost casual pose by Meyer Jr. makes a welcome change from the usual way these feline predators are depicted.

Weighing in at 35 grams, and using five-nines gold, it’s clear these won’t be on everyone’s radar, reflected in the 400-coin mintage, but this is another pretty coin that bodes well for future releases. At the time of writing, the mint is claiming 72% of the are sold, leaving just 112 coins left, so the $2800 CAD price-tag must be palatable enough.

DESIGN: The reverse design by Canadian artist Denis Meyer Jr. features a cougar (Puma concolor) resting on a tree branch as it scans the horizon for signs of danger or prey. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

PACKAGING: The coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.