Shortly after unveiling a multicoloured toonie and a coin in the shape of a dinosaur's eye, the Royal Canadian Mint is back at it with a brand new release.
Earlier this week, the Mint dropped a collector's coin that could easily be mistaken for a humble nickel — but don't be fooled. It's made of pure silver, plated with gold, has a face value of $50, and costs nearly $480 to own.
A beaver tribute in silver and gold
Called The Beaver, the new release honours the beaver's place as an official emblem of Canada since 1975. It mimics the classic nickel by featuring beavers in motion, but this design goes far beyond what you find in your spare change.
The two-sided scene shows a family of beavers building a lodge. One side captures the view from above the water, while the other reveals what's happening below the surface.
The Beaver — Fine Silver Coin.Royal Canadian Mint
On both sides, the animals are plated with yellow gold — symbolizing autumn sunlight and the earthy tones of the beaver's fur — against a silver background that reflects like a calm pond.
Double high-relief engraving
Each side is sculpted to create a 3D effect, with the beavers engraved at heights up to 6 mm.
The Mint calls this a Double Extraordinarily High Relief (EHR) coin — the highest relief the Crown corporation has ever attempted. That means the details, from lily pads on the surface to ripples in the water, stand out dramatically when you tilt the coin.
The obverse even combines the underwater view with a portrait of King Charles III by artist Steven Rosati, placed as a small medallion beneath the beavers rather than dominating the design as usual.
The Beaver — Fine Silver Coin (reverse side)Royal Canadian Mint
Collectors' details
This isn't a circulation coin, so you probably won't find it just anywhere. Instead, it's limited to just 2,750 pieces worldwide. Each coin is made of 99.99% pure silver, weighs more than 100 grams, and comes packaged in a black Mint clamshell inside a display-ready floating capsule that lets you see both sides clearly.
Designed by artist Maurade Baynton and engraved by Aida Alves, the coin captures the beaver's reputation as a "natural ecosystem engineer." Baynton sculpted the original design in clay to align the above- and below-water perspectives, while Alves and the Mint's engineers worked to push the relief higher than ever before.
How much does it cost?
While the face value is $50, the retail price is $479.95 at Mint boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, or online at mint.ca. Each coin also comes with a serialized certificate of authenticity.
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