Introducing the 2022 Visions of Canada Silver Coin
Canada is a vast nation with a varied landscape. Wherever you travel in the country, whatever the season, you can see breathtaking vistas. The rich variety of landscapes is part of what makes Canada special and unique, but it presented a challenge to the Royal Canadian Mint when it set out to create a coin that celebrates the nation’s rich biodiversity. The RCM found an artist that could meet the challenge in Canadian artist Claire Watson, and the result was the Visions of Canada silver coin, released in 2022 and now among newly released Canadian coins for sale.
About the Coin’s Design
Forests cover 38% of the total land area of Canada. This equates to 347 million tree-covered hectares, making Canada third in the world among the most forested countries. This is reflected in the coin’s reverse design, with trees appearing along the riverbank, the seashore, and at the base of the mountains.
Lakes and rivers are also prevalent throughout Canada. Even discounting the Great Lakes, four of which span our shared border with the United States, Canada has the most lake area of any other country. Great Bear Lake, the largest contained entirely within Canadian borders, is located to the north, where you will also find our longest river, the Mackenzie. On the coin, a lake is located in the background at the foot of the mountains, while a river with a waterfall, complete with salmon swimming upstream, is prominent in the foreground.
The ocean — or rather, two oceans: the Pacific and Atlantic — is important to Canadian geography, history, culture, and economy. The Pacific is represented by crashing waves on the left side of the coin. To the right, a lighthouse represents the Maritime Provinces along the Atlantic coast.
The vast Prairie Provinces are important for supplying food through agriculture. This is represented by a peaceful scene of a mown field dotted with hay bales.
Despite Canada’s diverse landscapes, there are natural aspects that tie the entire country together. For example, the whisky jack, or grey jay, is a bird that makes its home in every province and territory in Canada. For this reason, it is also known as the Canada jay and features prominently, flying high over the rest of the coin’s design.
The design on the reverse continues on the obverse. In the foreground is the familiar portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, but in the background is an abstract wave pattern that could be interpreted as either waves or ocean currents but, in either case, evokes a feeling of movement.
About Artist Claire Watson
Claire Watson is an artist based on Vancouver Island, where she was born and raised. Her experiences living on the island and travelling all along the west coast of North America have given her not only an admiration for the rugged landscape but also a deep connection to it. As an artist, Watson is known for fine line work produced with either pen and ink or digitally and an organic colour palette when working with acrylics and watercolours. Watson understands the importance of protecting the environment and uses her art to help people connect to it. She also believes that time in nature helps to soothe the soul and therefore aspires to bring the outdoors home for herself as well as others through her art.
About Adding the Visions of Canada Silver Coin From the Royal Canadian Mint to Your Collection
Canada’s various landscapes and diverse natural beauty are a source of national pride. This coin is a beautiful expression of that feeling as well as the gratitude we have for being able to call this magnificent country home. Therefore it would make a perfect addition to any existing coin collection or a great start for a new one. Find this coin and many other collectable Canadian coins for sale at Colonial Acres.