2 dollars – Elk Calf

Highlights:

This is the only set to offer the limited-edition two-dollar coin featuring an elk calf. It features the specimen finish (brilliant and frosted relief on a lined background) that has long been a favourite among collectors.

Coin design:

A newborn elk steadies itself on wobbly legs in a fresh summer meadow, by Canadian artist Christie Paquet.

A rare encounter with a delicate fawn.

This year, the polar bear you would expect to see on the $2 coin has been replaced with a newborn elk calf. The arrival of these endearing young animals in Canada’s western provinces is a sure sign that summer has arrived.

Females give birth to a single calf weighing about 16 kg (35 lbs). It will stand within minutes of its birth although it will spend the next 10 days hidden away in dense vegetation camouflaged by its spotted coat. During this time, the calf will feed on its mother’s milk and will double in weight—a remarkable growth process that will produce a majestic adult within a few short years.