coins and more: 861) The Salmon Run, Canada: A rectangular $25 Silver Coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, Canada to highlight this natural annual event which attracts several predators, inculding Grizzly Bears and Eagles (2018):

861) The Salmon Run, Canada: A rectangular $25 Silver Coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, Canada to highlight this natural annual event which attracts several predators, inculding Grizzly Bears and Eagles (2018):

The Royal Canadian Mint has issued new $25 rectangular Silver Proof Coins, which integrate an ultra-high relief design together with transparent enamelling for the first time which emphasises crystal-blue water in a scene reminiscent of one of the regions most spectacular natural wonders in the wild - the salmon run.

In the mighty rivers of British Columbia and Yukon, the salmon run is a spectacular natural occurrence and an awe-inspiring testament to one's ability to persevere against all odds. Swimming against the current and leaping over obstacles - the hard-fighting fish's odyssey from the sea to the spawning grounds draws many predators along the way -including bears and eagles that depend on the salmon for their survival.

One of Canada's most significant salmon sprawling sites is the Fraser River in British Columbia, where the "Sock-eye Salmon" experiences a phenomenon known as "cyclic dominance", when, every fourth year, a larger-than-average number of spawning salmon return from the sea. The salmon species has a strong sense of smell, and likely recognises its birth river by scent.

Remarkably, the journey back to the salmon's spawning grounds is one of nature's arduous migrations. The Sockeye must be in peak form to swim hundreds of kilometres against the current, and without feeding, it must occasionally leap to get above waterfalls and rapids, while constantly evading hungry predators.

Other threats to the salmon include man-made obstacles such as dams, pollution and rising water temperatures that increase the risk of mortality.

Arriving at the final destination, the female builds as many as seven "redds" (or "spawning nests") for her roe in the grevel-lined river-bed. The male deposits his milt in conjunction to the female releasing her eggs, where fertilisation occurs almost immediately and the female then buries the eggs in the red.

Sadly, the exhausted parents die after spawning. However, even in death, the salmon continues to play a key role in the health of the coastal rain-forests and rivers - where their remains provide marine-derived nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and carbon that enhance plant and animal life.

The Coin:

This pure silver coin is perfectly shaped for depicting a magnificent panoramic view featuring two emblematic species, the grizzly bear and the Sock-eye Salmon, with predator and prey pictured together in a beautiful river setting.

Two technologies have been used on this rectangular coin - a blue enamel application which tints the water without obscuring the underwater view and an ultra - high relief engraving heightening the hungry grizzly bear's imposing stature.

The Reverse of the $25 rectangular Silver Coin features a river setting in Western Canada, where the annual "Sockeye Salmon run" is underway.

Translucent enamel adds a beautiful blue hue to the water while allowing an underwater view of the engraved "Sockeye Salmon" ("Oncorhynchus nerka") and the gravel-lined riverbed. Engraved in ultra-high relief to heighten its imposing stature, a "Grizzly Bear" ("Ursos arctos") has waded into the shallow water to catch its meal.

The split-shot nature of the design is a reminder of the salmon's crucial role in this ecosystem, where sustaining other wildlife or providing marine-derived nutrients that support plant life.

The inscription on this face is "CANADA".

These two images together - one bright and the other somewhat dull - highlight all the design aspects engraved on the Reverse of the coin.

The Obverse of the $25 rectangular Silver Coin bears an image of Queen Elizabeth II facing right, designed by Susanna Blunt. The inscriptions are - "ELIZABETH II. D.G.REGINA. 25 DOLLARS.2018".

The specifications of this coin are -

Denomination: $25; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 47.3 grams; Diameter/Size: 49.8 mm x 28.6 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Edge: Plain; Mintage limit: 3,500 pieces.; Designer: Emily Damstra; Year of minting: 2018.

The coin is specially encapsulated to accommodate its rectangular shape and is presented in a maroon custom Royal Canadian Mint branded case/clamshell with a black beauty box, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

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