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.