This 2015 $500 ultra-high relief silver coin is the ultimate combination of an incredible work of art, an extremely rare collector coin with a total mintage of just 100 pieces, and an incredible HUGE display piece. This coin weighs five kilograms, or more than 160 troy ounces, or for those who prefer to think in pounds, it weighs more than 11 pounds. The coin is extremely thick and has a diameter of 180 mm – more than 7 inches. As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, this item is GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The coin features images from the sculpture The Dance Screen (The Scream Too), by renowned Haida master carver, and Eagle Clan Chief, James Hart. The design is devoted to the wild salmon of the Pacific Northwest Coast, whose numbers have diminished significantly in recent years. It brings together key figures of the Haida, all of whom depend on the Salmon for their survival. The beaver and raven, mother bear and cubs, eagle, frog, orcas, shaman, salmon and salmon people all blend together in a single whole, for the viewer to consider the importance and plight of the wild salmon.
Beaver and Raven: Haida story tells of Raven stealing a lake filled with salmon, this venerable fish, from the Beaver People who were hoarding them. On Hart’s piece, the Beaver’s hollering face emerges from the left side of the image as the Raven peeks across the screen at him from a safe distance.
Mother Bear and Cubs: The screen centers on the large Mother Bear whose life depends so distinctly on the Salmon. Just beneath her a large open mouth, her two cubs flank the doorway; they have taken on human form – a common Haida motif. Their mouths shout about the plight of the Salmon, amplified by raised hands.
Eagle and Frogs: Above the Mother Bear, with claws emerging through her ears, is an Eagle with Frogs in its ears. Eagle with outstretched wings has the ability to fly so high as to reach the upperworld. Frogs symbolize both good fortune and the ability to cross between our world and the underworld.
Orcas: A male and a female Orca are positioned on the outside of each Bear Cub, their tall dorsal fins rising along each side of the Mother Bear’s face. From a face in their blowholes, which represent the spirit of the whale, they shout about the fate of the Salmon.
Salmon and Salmon People: The entire work is framed by the Salmon itself in both its human and animal forms. Carved directly into the perimeter are the faces of twelve Salmon People, each outlined with a frame of shimmering abalone shell inlay. Between each of these faces are two blue glittering carved salmons.
The Shaman: The Shaman presides before the piece to maintain order, to heal and to perform rituals that ensure continuity. This Shaman ensures that the Salmon shall return. He is also a figure of the Artitst himself, informing people about the Salmon’s fate.
