2013 1/4oz $5 - CONTEMPORARY ABORIGINAL ART: MOTHER AND BABY ICE FISHING - FINE SILVER NIOBIUM COIN

Theme:
1st coin in a new series featuring contemporary aboriginal art incorporated in a colorful design using oxidised niobium to diffract light and cause brilliant colours, naturally.

Description:
This coin is certified to be 99.99% fine silver with a diameter of 28 millimetres and a metal weight of 8.5 grams.

It features an innovative minting process that incorporates a niobium insert struck into the coin’s silver core. The niobium is selectively coloured using a unique oxidization process produced naturally by niobium’s distinct properties. Niobium is used in superalloys, superconducting magnets and is commonly used to strengthen steel. The ability to make unique colours directly from niobium, make it an interesting metal for coins.

This coin’s reverse design is by Inuit artist Ulaayu Pilurtuut. Pilurtuut’s design shows a joyous mother celebrating her latest catch with her baby in her amautik. Rendered in a contemporary Inuit style, it captures the lighthearted spirit and humour commonly associated with this ancient practice.

The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Special Features:

•  This unique fine silver coin features a niobium metal insert with unique coloring that enhances the beauty of this Inuit’s artist design.

•  Distinct and innovative minting process: Niobium insert is struck into the core of a fine silver coin and then selectively colored through a unique oxidization process. After oxidation, the niobium diffuses light to create brilliant colours. The Royal Canadian Mint controls the oxidation to create desired colours.

• This coin portrays the unique bond between a Mother and her child engaged in an important Inuit family activity, fishing.

Product Specifications:
Face Value: 5 dollars
Mintage: 6,500
Composition: 99.99% fine silver with niobium
Weight (g): 8.5
Diameter (mm): 28
Edge: Interrupted Serrations
Finish: Proof
Certificate: Serialized
Artist: Ulaayu Pilurtuut

Packaging:
Coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint- branded black clamshell case lined with a black flock and protected by a black sleeve.

Finished Packaging Size: 67 mm x 67 mm

Advertising Date: May 27, 2013
Launch Date: June 11, 2013

Other coins in the series:
A second Niobium coin is planned for 2013 (also featuring an ice fishing image by artist Ulaayu Pilurtuut).

Complete Certificate Text:
Fishing. It’s a family affair.
Distance and proportion melt away on the great expanse of Arctic ice—and the Inuit woman would disappear into the landscape if it were not for the brownish-grey earth tones of her animal hide parka. Even then, it would take a trained eye to spot the dot of contrast against the frigid white that defines the Arctic for most of the year.

The woman is huddled over a fishing hole. She has been there for hours. It’s one of her husband’s favourite spots where Arctic char, whitefish and trout have been known to swim—and have sustained Inuit for millennia as they moved between land and sea, soil and ice to hunt and fish in harmony with nature’s seasons.

Not a movement. Not a sound. Not even a breath, it seems. Even the baby tucked away in the mother’s amautik seems to understand the importance of silence. Fish stay away from noise.
The stick twitches. Stillness shatters as the woman snaps her fishing pole up and away from the ice in one jubilant sweep, thankful the sea has offered up yet another gift for life—today, just as it has for thousands of years past, and for generations to follow.