2013 Canada $20 Bathygnathus Borealis Pure Silver Coin – Dinosaurs of Canada – Mintage 8500

One of the first fossil discoveries to capture the Canadian imagination was that of the Bathygnathus borealis-found in 1845 near New London, Prince Edward Island. It wasn’t until 1905 that the bone was correctly identified as part of the upper jaw of a sphenacodontid, a family of “pelycosaur-grade” mammal-like reptiles or synapsids, animals that lived from the Late Pennsylvanian to middle Permian ages. Based on similarities of the jaw bones, experts now believe that the specimen could actually belong to the sail-back Dimetrodon or a similar animal, although fossil evidence of a sail has yet to be found. If Bathygnathus was similar to Dimetrodon, the large “sail” on its back could have helped regulate its body temperature.

Despite its early misidentification, this fossil is of great scientific and historical significance—it lived between 290 and 260 million years ago, when what is now P.E.I. lay near the equator.

This realistic non-novelty coin is the first of a series on dinosaurs discovered in Canada. With a limited mintage of 8,500, make sure you order your coin before they sell out!

Special features
• NEW SERIES: coins to feature lifelike prehistoric animals and dinosaurs discovered in Canada.
• Your coin displays an exceptional engraving of a full, non-skeletal, lifelike portrait of the Bathygnathus borealis.
• Struck in 99.99% pure silver-GST/HST exempt.
• Limited mintage of 8,500.

Design
Designed by Canadian artist Julius Csotonyi, your coin displays a depiction of the Bathygnathus borealis, scientifically verified by the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Depicted here as similar to Dimetrodon, the mammal-like reptile bares its long, sharp teeth as its powerful, low-slung body walks. From the animal’s back rises one of the key Dimetrodon features: the tall, spiny, skin-covered dorsal sail used to regulate body temperature. The reverse is engraved with the words “CANADA,” the date “2013” and the face value of “20 DOLLARS.”

Packaging
Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell case lined with flock and protected by a black sleeve.

This new series will be a hit with dinosaur enthusiasts, fans of science and history, and collectors of fine silver.