Canada Has A New $30 Coin Made Of Pure Silver & It Features A Massive Bison (PHOTOS)

The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled a brand new $30 coin inspired by a Canadian artist's piece depicting bison in their natural habitat.

The two-ounce fine silver coin, titled Weather Watch – Bison by Robert Bateman, pays homage to the Canadian icon, by featuring an engraved rendering of Bateman's famous piece.

The reverse of the new coin features a side profile of a bison remaining alert while calmly resting on a sandy bank in the open grasslands. The coin's face value ($30) is also masterfully engraved on the new Canadian coin's reverse, with Bateman's signature directly placed underneath it.

"My eye fell on this bit of eroded, sandy bank, which made me think of the Calgary Zoo bison's flank, Bateman told the Royal Canadian Mint.

Weather Watch – Bison ($30 coin)Royal Canadian Mint

The front side showcases a nature-inspired design along with Susanna Blunt's depiction of Queen Elizabeth II.

Additionally, the obverse of the coin bears a unique emblem incorporating four pearls representing the four different effigies adorning Canadian coins throughout her reign, alongside the double date marking her tenure.

With a mintage of 3,750 new Canadian coins, the Bateman-inspired $30 coin weighs a total of 62.7 grams and has a diameter of 50 millimetres.

Although the coin's face value is, in fact, $30, it will cost you $229.95 on the Mint's website. When purchased, the new coin arrives in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded black clamshell beauty box.

Weather Watch – Bison ($30 coin)Royal Canadian Mint

Coin collectors have already taken online to share their thoughts on the new $30 coin, with many agreeing the coin is rather exquisite.

"Bateman coins are a keeper," one reviewer wrote. "I am quite surprised that it has not sold out yet."

"The coin itself looks incredible. No issues on the coin. I definitely recommend it for coin collectors," another coin connoisseur wrote on the Royal Canadian Mint website.

Keep Reading: The Royal Canadian Mint has released a handful of other coins in 2024 including a series of $20 coins, a brand-new loonie and a rectangular coin with glow-in-the-dark features.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.