2022 $175 FINE SILVER COIN
BIRDS IN SHADOW BOX (FROM THE R&D LAB)

1st coin of the Shadow Box Coins series.

The shadow box is a timeless artform, one that draws you in by layering shapes to create a beautiful and familiar scene—like the one featured on the 2022 From The R&D Lab coin from the Royal Canadian Mint. Building on the multilayered concept introduced in 2019, the latest minting innovation from the Mint’s R&D Lab is a prototype shadow box coin that pushes the boundaries of dimensional engraving even further. The coin’s reverse takes the 2019 Birds in the Backyard design and breaks it down into four distinct layers of art. By spacing out and superimposing these layers, the arrangement forms a richer, more complex scene with unparalleled depth, detail and realism, and it was all made possible by the Mint’s dedicated R&D team.

Another world first from the Royal Canadian Mint’s R&D Lab. Your first look at a groundbreaking innovation: a shadow box coin with four separate layers of art on its reverse. To best demonstrate this new minting technology, R&D researchers took a familiar scene (Neil Hamelin’s 2019’s Birds in Backyard design) and broke it down into individual design components: a tree canopy backdrop engraved on the base; superimposed cut-outs of birds and branches in the middle; and an engraved top layer that frames your view of this multidimensional scene.

 Multiple viewings are required to fully appreciate all the details. While the layers have been spaced out and superimposed to create a floating image effect, overlapping portions obscure some design elements that only reveal themselves when viewed from a different angle.
 One of the Mint’s most popular collector series, From the R&D Lab coins represent an initial test run for never-before-seen technology. These extremely rare coins always sell out quickly, and for 2023, only 252 were minted.
 Each prototype shadow box coin comes packaged in an exclusive R&D Lab wooden box with a special certificate.

SHADOW BOX COINS - BIRDS IN SHADOW BOX (FROM THE R&D LAB) - 2022 CANADIAN COINS 01 is categorised COINS AND PAPER MONEY / 08- ROYAL CANADIAN MINT / 10- FLORA, FAUNA & NATURE and sold by l'Imaginaire, a store and specialised website.