2430) "The Sea Otter", Canada: "Black and Gold Silver Coin Series": Third Coin in the Series: A $20 (Twenty Dollars - CAN) Silver Proof Coin showcases this species which is at the Point of Extinction: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2022:
CANADA: Sea Otter Coin:
This 2022 Sea Otter $20 fine silver coin is the third coin in a highly popular series which saw the release of the Canadian Horse (2020) and 2021 Grey Wolf (2021) Coins.
Once hunted to the point of extinction, the Sea Otter has been reintroduced to British Columbia’s coastal waters, where its appetite keeps sea urchin populations in check—this, in turn, helps to restore and protect the kelp forests that are a critical habitat for hundreds of species.
Like the Canadian Horse (2020) and the Grey Wolf (2021), this Coin’s Reverse design is inspired by the yin yang symbol. No matter which way one views the design, one always gets a full glimpse of an adorable sea otter floating on its back.
About the Sea Otter:
The Sea Otter ("Enhydra lutris") is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean.
Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (30 and 100 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals.
Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean.
The sea otter inhabits near shore environments, where it dives to the sea floor to forage. It preys mostly on marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various mollusks and crustaceans, and some species of fish. Its foraging and eating habits are noteworthy in several respects. Its use of rocks to dislodge prey and to open shells makes it one of the few mammal species to use tools.
In most of its range, it is a keystone species, controlling sea urchin populations which would otherwise inflict extensive damage to kelp forest ecosystems.
Its diet includes prey species that are also valued by humans as food, leading to conflicts between sea otters and fisheries.
An Endandered species:
Sea otters, whose numbers were once estimated at 150,000–300,000, were hunted extensively for their fur between 1741 and 1911, and the world population fell to 1,000–2,000 individuals living in a fraction of their historic range.
A subsequent international ban on hunting, sea otter conservation efforts, and reintroduction programs into previously populated areas have contributed to numbers rebounding, and the species occupies about two-thirds of its former range.
The recovery of the sea otter is considered an important success in marine conservation, although populations in the Aleutian Islands and California have recently declined or have plateaued at depressed levels. For these reasons, the sea otter remains classified as an "Endangered species".
The Coin:
This new coin features a yin-and-yang design using selective gold-and-black rhodium with a striking effect to showcase the two sea otters floating on their backs.
The theme of balance is well matched to the sea otters who work hard, but also make time to float arm-in-arm (or rather, paw-in-paw) with a loved one.
The Reverse of the $20 (Twenty Dollars - CAN) Silver Coin features two adult Sea Otters positioned in a way that represents opposite but complementary concepts, such as work and rest/play.
Yellow gold and black rhodium plating clearly divide the design into two halves in order to highlight the importance of achieving balance in life, but also in nature, where the sea otter's reintroduction to Canada's Pacific coast has had a big impact on the marine ecosystem.
The Obverse of the $20 (Twenty Dollars - CAN) Silver Coin features the gold-plated effigy of Queen Elizabeth II.
The inscriptions read - "ELIZABETH II. D.G.REGINA. CANADA. 20 DOLLARS. 2022".
The specification of the $20 (Twenty Dollars - CAN) Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: Canada; Date/Year: 2022; Coin Series Theme: "Black and Gold Silver Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "The Sea Otter"; Denomination/Face Value: $20 (Twenty Dollars - CAN); Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight range: 1 oz - less than 2 oz or 31.39 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.00 mm; Coin Quality: Matte Proof, with yellow gold and black rhodium plating; Mint: Royal Canadian Mint; Mintage: 5,500 pieces; Edge: Serrated; Designer: Wildlife artist Claude Thivierge.
Packaging: The Silver Coin is individually encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded Custom Presentation Case accompanied by a numbered/serialised Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
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