An immense polar bear and her endearing little cub float across iceberg-filled Arctic waters under a sky lit by the aurora borealis: icons within icons, each elemental to the Canadian identity. Showcasing the artistry and technical talent of the Royal Canadian Mint, this rare 99.99% pure silver coin celebrates the beloved polar bear.
Item Number 149406
Composition 99.99% fine silver
Weight (g)* 31.39
Diameter (mm) 38
Face Value $20
Finish Proof: Edge Serrated
Artist: Julius Csotonyi
Packaging: Maroon clamshell with custom beauty box
- This is the first coin in the Royal Canadian Mint’s innovative new series featuring classic Canadian icons highlighted with cutting-edge design and technology.
- The Royal Canadian Mint’s world-class 99.99% pure silver is an ideal canvas for Julius Csotonyi’s captivating portrait of a mother polar bear and her cub in their Arctic habitat. A striking blue enamel stratum overlays selective portions of the image, lending depth to the work of Csotonyi and the Mint’s engravers.
- This highly exclusive piece has a very low mintage of only 4,000 coins.
The reverse design by Canadian artist Julius Csotonyi centres around a portrait of a mother polar bear and her tiny cub. The cub leans in against the mother’s right front leg, looking directly at the viewer as the mother gazes toward the right side of the image. The two bears stand on a small iceberg, floating amid other larger bergs in open water. Above them, the aurora borealis illuminates a starlit sky. The bottom half of the image presents the underwater view of this scene, with a school of Arctic cod swimming near the submerged section of the polar bears’ iceberg. The underwater portion of the image is overlaid with translucent blue enamel, lending depth and colour to the coin’s highly detailed engraving and shading. A polished outer band bears the word “CANADA”, the date “2016”, and the face value of “20 DOLLARS”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Please note, Masters Club members will have exclusive access to purchase this coin until June 17, 2016. Dealers cannot advertise or sell this coin until June 17, 2016. Please refer to your Dealer Terms and Conditions for further details.
Obtaining a Raffle License
According to state law, all raffle drawings must be licensed by the local city and/or county government. Any non-profit group that wishes to conduct a raffle drawing in the unincorporated area of Perry County must first obtain a raffle license from the Perry County Board. The County also issues licenses on behalf of the City of Pinckneyville and Village of Tamaroa. Groups conducting a raffle inside other communities should contact the appropriate city or village clerk.
Who May Apply
Groups must comply with the Illinois Raffles Act and the Perry County Raffle Ordinance. Groups eligible include, but are not limited to:
- Religious Organizations
- Fraternal Groups
- Veterans Organizations
- Labor Organizations
- Business Groups
- Educational Organizations
- Groups aiding those suffering extreme financial hardship
What Is Required
Raffle license applications are obtained in the County Clerk’s office. The organization must complete the application and return it with the required $15 fee. The Perry County Board will then consider the application at its next regular meeting.
In addition to providing information about the group and its officers, each applicant must name a raffle manager that will be responsible for the conduct of the raffle. The group must also provide facts about the raffle, such as when tickets will be sold, the prizes to be given away, when and where the drawing will be held, etc.
According to state law, the raffle manager named on the application must be bonded to group. Proof of corporate fidelity bond or personal surety bond must accompany the application. However, groups may waive the bond requirement by a unanimous vote of the organization. The president or chairperson of the group must sign a certification stating the bond requirement was waived.
Since an application must be obtained, completed and filed, then approved by the Perry County Board, you are encouraged to obtain the necessary information well in advance of your planned fund-raiser.
If your group is considering a raffle fund-raiser, you are encouraged to contact the County Clerk’s Office. We will provide you with a copy of the Perry County Raffle Ordinance and answer your questions.