Earlier this week, the Royal Canadian Mint released the fifth and final coin of its 2016 Geometry in Art silver Proof coin series, “The Maple Leaf,” which uses a “low poly” art style to render a mighty maple leaf and some nearby trees.
Designed by Canadian artist Calder Moore, The Maple Leaf coin is struck in one ounce of 99.99 per cent silver and features an artistic representation of a Canadian forest in autumn, which provides a natural setting for one of Canada’s most iconic symbols: the maple leaf.
The Maple Leaf coin (shown above) features a design by Canadian artist Calder Moore.
According to the Mint’s representatives: “Geometry, technology and art intersect as the entirety of the image is presented in a low poly art style, with multiple polygon shapes coming together to form the mix of coniferous and deciduous trees on both sides of the river. A rich colour gradient in the background recreates the fading sunset as it casts a golden glow on the fall foliage, while the use of rich colour variants throughout the landscape alters our perception of shadow and light. The eye is naturally drawn to the two engraved maple leaves in the foreground, where extraordinary sculpting, cutting-edge technology and advanced finishing techniques showcase the individual polygons within each form. The geometric lines and corners lend themselves beautifully to recreating the maple leaf’s stem and serrated edges, as a gentle breeze brings both leaves tumbling onto the water’s surface to float above the rocky riverbed.”
Each coin has a weight of 31.83 grams, a 40-mm diameter, and a limited mintage of 7,500 coins.
The coin’s obverse features Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
The reverse side also includes the inscriptions “CANADA”, “2016”, and “20 DOLLARS” along the rim. The obverse depicts Susanna Blunt’s effigy of Queen Elizabeth II with the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II” and “D.G. REGINA”.
GEOMETRY IN ART SILVER PROOF SERIES
The five-coin Geometry in Art silver Proof coin series includes the following pieces:
- Common Loon;
- Polar Bear;
- Caribou;
- Beaver; and
- Maple Leaf.