20 dollars - The Howling Wolf

Swiftly travelling across Canada’s wild landscapes, the wolf (Canis lupus) makes its presence known when it releases its unmistakable howl into the night. Our exploration of Canada at night continues with this third coin in the Nocturnal by Nature series, using selective black rhodium plating to set the mood for a moonlit serenade.

Designed by Canadian artist Claude Thivierge, your coin travels deep into one of Canada’s forests, to catch a glimpse of a species whose haunting cry defines the call of the wild. Black rhodium plating sets the tone for a nighttime encounter in a clearing, where, viewed in three-quarter profile, Canis lupus raises its head to the sky and releases its howl into the winter night. Behind the wolf, the coin’s polished silver surface is left unplated to mimic the light of the engraved full moon, which faintly illuminates the landscape below, and the wolf from behind. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

• While it may sound chilling to us, the wolf’s cry is a key way of communicating with others, whether it’s a rallying cry to pack members or a warning to others encroaching on its territory.
• The wolf doesn’t necessarily howl at the moon: by lifting its head up towards the sky, the wolf is better able to project its call so that the sound carries farther.
• Wolf howls may also seem more frequent during winter. It’s not a coincidence: the wolf’s mating season runs from January to April, and a wolf may use its howl to attract a female.