# 1506 - Canadian Wildlife - Part 69

The info below comes from the Royal Canadian Mint's COA (Certificate of Authenticity) of this coin or from the book Canadian Collector Coins, vol 2, 8th Edition, by M. Drake or https://en.numista.com/ , or https://www.wikipedia.org/.

Today we will continue the series called "Canadian Wildlife".

The Royal Canadian Mint is known by its high quality work and the enormous number of commemorative coins issued each year. Among these commemoratives we find many, individual or in series, under the theme "wildlife".

Canada, with its vast lands and seas, is the home of a varied fauna and that will be showed in this series.

I will try to post land animals, sea animals and birds, in that order.

The sixty ninth coin is a 2017 CAD $10 "The Beaver".

This coin weights 15.87g (1/2oz) with 99.99% silver purity and Colored Proof finish. Its mintage was 15,000 units and the issue price was CAD $51.95. It is the fourth coin in the "Iconic Canada 2017" series.

To see a beaver (Castor canadensis) in the wild is to glimpse at Canada's history and character, for no other species can lay claim to shaping Canada like the steadfastly industrious beaver. Its flat tail and rounded shape make it instantly recognizable, while its activities often alter the landscape around many of our lakes and waterways. More importantly, its once-coveted pelt steered the course of early Canadian history, when the fur trade was the main commercial enterprise and the driving force behind European exploration of this land.

The reverse, designed by Canadian artist Glen Loates, captures the industrious nature of an official emblem of Canada. One can imagine standing on the edge of a lake or paddling in a canoe, when nature's idyllic silence is interrupted by a sudden splash that draws our gaze towards a surprising sight: a partially submerged beaver paddling by with wooden reinforcement for its lodge. An overhead view allows for a careful examination of its muzzle, its rounded body shape, and the famously flat tail that provides balance on land and direction in the water. An outstanding attention to engraved detail is apparent in the motion conveyed by the rippled surface of the water, as well as the textured appearance of the aspen branch firmly held by the beaver's famously sharp teeth.

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