This special edition 2020 Connecting Canada coin set is a multipart celebration of who we are: a nation of diverse scenery and species bound together by our three coasts — and we’re fiercely proud of it. These special edition 25-cent coins are an inspired way of showcasing our ocean borders through iconic wildlife and GPS coordinates for famous coastal points. Together in one set, the three different designs come together to proudly and colourfully complete our image of Canada.
The Design:
Designed by artist Tony Bianco, each reverse design highlights one of Canada’s three coasts. On the Pacific-themed coin, a salmon-fishing Kermode bear is paired with the GPS coordinates for Haida Gwaii (53.2500, -132.2500) to represent some of the westernmost portions of Canada’s coastline.
A narwhal appears in Canada’s northern waters on the Arctic-themed coin, which includes the coordinates for the northernmost permanently residential community of Grise Fiord, Nunavut (76.4166, -82.8958).
The Atlantic-themed coin features the Atlantic puffin as a symbol of Canada’s eastern shores, along with the coordinates for Canada’s easternmost point, Cape Spear, N.L. (47.5238, -52.6201).
When viewed together, the three coins complete a geographic portrait of Canada and its red maple leaf emblem. Each obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Did You Know?
Canada has the world’s longest coastline, which measures a total length of 243,042 kilometres. Canada is also one of the few countries bordered by three oceans. Cape Spear, NL is Canada’s easternmost point. Its GPS coordinates are included on the reverse of one of our Connecting Canada coins. Some of the westernmost coastal communities in Canada are on Haida Gwaii, the homeland of the Haida people. It is often referred to as “Canada’s Galapagos” due to its endemic plant and wildlife species. Home to 129 permanent residents, Grise Fiord is Canada’s northernmost permanently residential community and the largest one on Ellesmere Island. With an average July temperature of about 2 degrees Celsius, Grise Fiord is also Nunavut’s coldest community— in fact, its name in Inuktitut means “place that never melts.”
