The Bigger Picture zooms in on Canada’s classic circulation coin designs and zooms out to reveal a much bigger story. This second coin in the Bigger Picture series re-imagines Canada’s 5-cent circulation coin, shifting the focus to Beaver in its natural habitat.  Mintage is limited to just 1,300. HST/GST exempt.  

The Design:

The beaver holds a special place in Canada’s history, and since 1937, the beaver has occupied the place of honour on our five-cent circulation coin. While Canadians are used to seeing a single beaver image on our five-cent coin, this Bigger Picture offers a different take. By re-imagining the five-cent’s mascot as a member of a busy beaver colony, the expanded scene highlights the species’ important role in Canada’s boreal forest, where its dams create wetland habitats for other species.  In this new scene, two additional beavers can be seen constructing a dam in a classic wetland setting.

The obverse features a maple leaf pattern and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.