This 2013 50 cent coin is the first of a beautiful series celebrating a species that is uniquely Canadian. Mintage is 20,000 coins.

The Design:

This silver-plated copper coin has a diameter of 42 millimetres and features selective colour. The reverse image, designed by Canadian artist Celia Godkin, depicts a colourful Canadian Tiger Swallowtail resting on a coloured dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail:

The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) is one of Canada’s most recognizable butterflies. With its broad wingspan of up to ten centimetres and the distinctive yellow and black tiger stripe pattern on its wings and body, the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is a striking feature of springtime in Canada.