Canadian Polar Bear 1/4 oz 9999 Silver Coin
The Royal Canadian Mint launched the Face Value Collector Coin series in 2011 to offer Canadians and coin enthusiasts a unique opportunity to engage in coin collecting. The series featured coins with face values ranging from $20 to $200. The 2012 1/4 oz Canadian $20 Polar Bear Silver Coin was released during the program's second year, which has since been discontinued.
Each coin comes securely packaged to preserve its condition during shipping. Though the coin carries a $20 face value, it is non-circulating. This means it cannot be used as legal tender in everyday transactions, and banks are not obligated to redeem it—though the Royal Canadian Mint would honor its face value return policy.
The obverse showcases a widely recognized effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. Unlike many Commonwealth nations that use portraits created by the British Royal Mint, Canada uses its own design. Blunt’s depiction of the Queen has become one of the most frequently seen on Canadian currency, appearing on both circulating and commemorative coins. The portrait is framed by a raised rim and the inscriptions of her name and "D G Regina," an abbreviation of the Latin Dei Gratia Regina, meaning "By the Grace of God, Queen."
On the reverse, the 2012 $20 Polar Bear Silver Coin features a dynamic image of a polar bear swimming through Arctic waters. Surrounding the figure are inscriptions indicating the coin’s face value, issuing country, and year. Polar bears are a frequent subject in collectible coin design, admired for their strength and symbolic ties to environmental conservation. Known for their endurance, polar bears can swim for hours and reach speeds of up to 6 miles per hour.
Coin Highlights:
- Ships in a protective capsule
- Limited mintage of 250,000 coins
- Contains 1/4 troy ounce of .9999 fine silver
- Bears a non-circulating $20 CAD face value backed by the Government of Canada
- Obverse: Features Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Canadian artist Susanna Blunt
- Reverse: Displays a polar bear swimming in Arctic waters
