Avid coin collectors, this is for you!
A Salt Spring artist has designed the new pure silver Royal Canadian Mint coin, dubbed “The Howling Wolf.”
Inspired by the Hunter’s Moon, the artist W. Allan Hancock has depicted the power of a wolf howling at the full moon, and the design has been elevated by the Royal Mint’s newest engraving technology.
They use Lifted Engraving technology, a ground-breaking innovation that turns a 2D design into 3D art, lifting the focal point above the rest of the engraved coin’s surface.
Naturally, in this case, the focal point is the wolf, pulled forward into the foreground and apart from the spellbinding background—complete with a detailed moon and other fellow wolves.
“Whether communicating with members of its own pack or warning rival packs, the sound of the howling wolf has a purpose,” Hancock said.
“While sketching ideas, I tried to consider what that purpose might be. By including a couple of wolves in the background looking outside the image, the viewer might wonder: Are other wolves howling back? The Hunter’s Moon that occurred while I was working on this design made the perfect full moon reference for this scene.”
According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the 3D engraving is a unique engineering feat, but uses the same minting process as a standard coin. Lifted engraving uses a new type of die and deliberately cuts into the coin, pulling the focal point from the rest of the design and bending it to create foreground.
“Working with our Engineering and Engraving teams to bring this technology to its full potential was a thrilling rollercoaster of innovation and collaboration,” said Alicia Cook Sapene, Product Manager.
“From choosing the right theme and transforming the initial artwork into a dimensional design, to testing the technology to ensure it was a good fit, this project was a collective success story that raised the bar to reach new heights!”
Their Product Engineer, Olivia Godwin, added that they completed the coin with an antique finish to bring all of the elements together in a beautiful final touch.
The face value of the coin is $30, has a mintage of 2,500, weighs 61.3 grams with a 50 millimeter diameter.
If this interests you, you can learn more and purchase the coin here.
