One of the most popular sets of coins produced each year by the Royal Canadian Mint is the Specimen Set. This collection features some of the highest quality possible coins struck for collectors, all housed in an elegant book format presentation. All of the denominations from the five cent to the $2 coin are presented, including the low-mintage half-dollar. The highlight of the set is a unique $1 coin featuring the Snow Goose that cannot be found in circulation or in any other coin set.

This will be an exceptional collector set for 2017, since the classic designs for all the denominations will not be issued for circulation.

The one-dollar coin in this 2017 specimen set features a snow goose in flight. The dramatic image, designed by Canadian artist Derek C. Wicks, presents the goose from above with its wings flapped forward as it prepares to land on a lake below. The engravers’ expert technique brings to life every detail of the stunning outspread wings, large-billed face, and strong body. The wings seem to encircle an outcropping of snow-capped evergreens on the shore below. As with all Canadian “loonies,” this exceptionally well-designed image is framed by the loonie’s characteristic 11-sided circumference. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

While the presentation and quality of coins are excellent, this set remains affordably priced for collectors or to give as a gift.

The Snow Goose

The snow goose measures 69–83 cm, with a wingspan of 138 cm, and weighs 1600-3300 grams. They are vegetarians with voracious appetites for grasses, rushes, horsetails, shrubs, and willows. They will consume nearly any part of a plant—including seeds, stems, leaves, and roots, in the winter and during migration they also eat grains and young stems of farm crops, along with a variety of berries.

Snow goose lay from 2 to 6 eggs, with an incubation period of 24 days. Upon hatching the young snow goose has its eyes fully open and their body fully covered with down.

Snow Geese are strong fliers, walkers, and swimmers, with their main activities being feeding and resting. During migration and winter, they roost mainly at night and afloat. Snow Geese stay with the same mate for life, choosing an individual of the same color morph (white or “blue”) as the family members they grew up with.