Orcas

The black-and-white orca (Orcinus orca) is a sight to behold in our coastal waters, where a sleek dorsal fin breaching the ocean’s surface is the first sign of its presence. The third (and final) coin in our Geometric Fauna series travels to Canada’s West Coast to witness an orca bursting through the barrier that separates our worlds, and ultimately breaking free of its geometric form.

The reverse design by Claude Thivierge combines two different art styles to capture the majestic beauty and strength of a cultural icon. On Canada’s Pacific Coast, the fjord-like coastline basks in the golden glow of sunlight, which spills into the ocean and illuminates the upper depths. The scene is split between our world and the orca’s underwater realm, where two pod members are rendered in a low poly art style; in spite of their geometric nature, the precision-engraved polygons are each carefully positioned to re-create the orca’s rounded silhouette as it easily moves through the water. A burst of movement comes from the foremost orca, which suddenly rises up above the ocean’s surface; this action simultaneously shatters the watery divide and the geometric barrier, as the breaching orca’s appearance smoothly transitions from abstract to realism above the water. The word “CANADA”, the face value “20 DOLLARS” and the year “2018” are engraved along the rim that frames much of the reverse image. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

This coin is the third issue of the Geometric Fauna series.

GEOMETRIC FAUNA - ORCAS - 2018 CANADIAN COINS 03 is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 10- FLORA, FAUNA & NATURE and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.