This 2017 $15 proof fine silver coin pays tribute to the Great Horned Owl with exceptional art and dynamic new special effects.  The eyes of the owl gleam with the gloss of enamel, but with realistic detail and complexity that has never before been possible.  To complete this tribute to a nocturnal species, the coin also features glow-in-the-dark technology.  Hold your coin under a light source for 30-60 seconds then view the coin in darkness, where the colourful eyes glow—as they would during a night-time encounter with limited light. This beautiful owl coin weighs about three quarters of an ounce of pure silver, and has a limited mintage of just 6,500.  As a pure silver coin struck by the Royal Canadian Mint, it is HST/GST exempt.  

The Design:

The indomitable spirit of the great horned owl is evident in this reverse design by Canadian artist Curtis Atwater. The close-up portrait of its broad face features complex engraving that adds textural details throughout, especially in the rendering of its plumage. Special emphasis is placed on the owl’s eyes, where an enamel effect mimics the glossy look of a traditional paint application, but with far more colour variances that give the amber-coloured irises a more life-like appearance. They are further enhanced by glow-in-the-dark technology that adds a luminous intensity to the piercing gaze, which offers the only visible proof of the owl’s presence in the dark. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.