The 1 oz Canadian Bison
Sixth and final coin in the Royal Canadian Mint’s Bullion Silver Maple Leaf Wildlife series – the Wood Bison. The Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae),a subspecies of the American Bison, is Canada’s largest terrestrial mammal. It lives in parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory, and Northwest Territories where it favors the wet meadows found in open boreal and aspen forests. The wood bison is protected under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, which lists it as Threatened.
This engraved fine silver coin has a diameter of 38 millimeters. The reverse image, designed by Canadian artist Emily Damstra, shows a wood bison galloping – its strength and endurance on display. A bison herd would run from any animal that might be a real threat to a small or weak member of the herd, though a healthy adult male such as the one shown is not likely to be attacked.
The reverse is engraved with the word “CANADA,” and the words “FINE SILVER” and “ARGENT PUR”. The obverse features the date “2013,” the face value of “5 DOLLARS” and the effigy of Her Majesty Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.