Composition : 99.99% Pure Silver
Mintage : 8,500

King ofthe Arctic

The majestic polar bear is a fitting icon for a nation that, like Ursus maritimusitself, has been shaped by the forces of ice, wind, water and stone. Stoic and strong, adaptable and clever, the polar bear has long captivated the Canadian imagination and been held up as a symbol of the northern spirit. As master of its icy domain, the polar bear also reminds us of the ongoing importance of Canada's Arctic sovereignty - and, increasingly, of the need to protect and preserve a region that is becoming more vulnerable in the face of a changing global climate.

Of the 19 circumpolar populations of Ursus maritimus, comprising about 25,000 members, the greatest number - about 15,000 - resides in the Canadian Arctic. This truly massive land animal can exceed 600 kilograms, measures about 1.7 metres at shoulder height when standing on all fours, and can reach nearly 4 metres when standing on its hind legs. It lives most of its life on the snow-covered Arctic sea ice, feeding primarily on fat-rich ringed and bearded seals atopen water holes called ''leads.''

As we learn more about the polar bear, the iconic animal's importance to Canadians grows ever deeper. A true study in adaptation, the polar bear is believed by some researchers to have branched off from a common ancestor with brown bears about 150,000 years ago. Becoming isolated in the glaciated northern environment, the species developed important features that have allowed it to thrive in a land where temperatures can dip below -45 degrees Celsius for much of the year. These features include a thick, colourless pelt that protects it from the cold and camouflages it against the snow, dense fat layers, claws and teeth optimized for hunting and eating seals, fur-covered footpads, foreshortened ears and tail to help retain heat, and more highly-developed scenting capabilities than other bears.

As worldwide fascination with the polar bear and its Arctic habitat grows, we can remain hopeful that the incredible survival skillsthat make it so symbolically poignant for Canadians will also help to preserve this amazing animal for the long term.
 

ICONIC POLAR BEAR - 2014 CANADIAN COINS is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 10- FLORA, FAUNA & NATURE and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.