As part of a proud cultural event, Royal Canadian Mint coins now include a new, stand-alone collector’s item, An Inuk and a Qulliq, made of pure Nunavut gold. Never before has the mint struck a coin on a 1/20 oz. gold blank, but this art piece was created to honour the Golden Celebration of Arctic Culture and Natural Resources.

This is a unique Arctic design, from its metal content to its beautiful artwork. Customers will appreciate the quality and detail and understand the rich value of this special keepsake. We want to share exciting information about this coin and the reasons why you will want to add it to your collection or gift it to someone else.

The Select Features

This coin has a number of choice features that make it an attractive numismatic collectible:

• Inuit-inspired design: The artwork on this coin celebrates Canada’s recognition and appreciation of its rich cultural diversity. The artistic rendering is a tribute to symbolic elements that express Inuit pride in their heritage and identity.
• Arctic gold: The gold is 100% Nunavut sourced in keeping with the important cultural tradition of this piece. It comes from the Agnico-Eagle Mines’ Meadowbrook Gold Mine and TMAC Resources’ Doris North Mine. This coin has a face value of $10.00.
• Brand-new size: The stand-alone size makes this piece special. This is the first Royal Canadian Mint coin made on a 1/20 oz. blank, which was previously only available as part of a fractional set or with bullion products.
• Low mintage: There will only be 4,000 coins available worldwide, making this a valued collectible.
• Collector’s addition: Collectors remember the 2018 Symbols of the North and 2019 20th Anniversary of Nunavut coins were produced on larger and thinner blanks to make them more affordable. The 2020 design takes this a step further, with 99.99% pure gold offerings that highlight impeccable quality and affordability. This is the perfect addition to your Arctic collection.

The Artist’s Story

The Inuk artist behind this coin is Ulaayu Pilurtuut. She crafts a contemporary vision of Inuit life by using symbols of identity and culture, depicted in graceful and stunning clarity. An Inuk woman is featured in the centre, and she is surrounded by inuksuit, which symbolize both guidance and community. She tends to a qulliq — the traditional oil lamp of the Arctic peoples — as it exudes the elements of light and warmth.

Pilurtuut explains the design is meaningful because it shows the Inuit way of life, with its representation of the hearth of a home, where they cook meals and heat and light their illuvigaqs (igloos).

The Exclusive Design

The Royal Canadian Mint took special care in the production of this coin with the burnishing and polishing techniques, to not lose any of the fine details. This preserves the essence of the light that burns bright and is tended by strong women that nurture its flames of strength and resilience.

The qulliq is also representative of the natural resources of the Arctic, as it incorporates materials from both the sea and land. Seal fat is used as fuel to light Arctic cotton tufts and moss which serve as lamp wicks. The qulliq is so important to the people that it appears on the Arms of Nunavut territorial flag, making it a wonderful feature of this coin.

While the reverse design depicts an Inuk and a qulliq, the obverse side features an effigy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by artist Susanna Blunt.