6-Coin Specimen Set – Gre...

$43.55 USD

6-Coin Specimen Set – Greater Sage-Grouse

N/A 2023 Mintage 30,000

6-Coin Specimen Set – Greater Sage-Grouse

N/A 2023 Mintage 30,000

$43.55 USD

Masters Club: 600 Status: CAN & US shipping only

Availability: Call store for availability. Find a store

Shipping: Expected to be shipped on Apr 26

About

One of Canada’s most endangered birds struts its stuff on the 2023 specimen dollar.

Each spring, the male greater sage-grouse puts on quite a show: it fans out its plumage, puffs and pops its chest, and struts its stuff in hopes of attracting a mate. This elaborate courtship display has been captured on the 2023 specimen dollar, which highlights the endangered status of a species that now occupies just 7% of its historical range in Canada. With fewer than 250 remaining in the wild, Canada’s greater sage-grouse population has been the focus of collaborative efforts to support the recovery of both the grassland species and its sagebrush habitat. Those efforts include a captive breeding and reintroduction program led by the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo; as of early 2022, 187 conservation-born sage-grouse have been released onto protected lands in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, home to only five known communal mating grounds (leks). Hope for the greater sage-grouse’s recovery grows, as ongoing research and population management strategies are working to slow the population’s decline and boost its chances of survival.

Share your interest in wildlife conservation and grow your collection with this affordable set.

Special features

Fourth set in the series. Add the 2023 instalment to your growing collection of specimen sets! This is the fourth set in a series that is helping to raise awareness of wildlife conservation and species recovery efforts in Canada.
Packaged for easy viewing. All six coins—$2, the special-themed $1, 50 cents, 25 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents—are presented side-by-side in an elegant book-style packaging, with a removable lens that has been designed to further enhance your enjoyment of these coins.
For nature and wildlife lovers. Inspire a child to collect coins: this affordable set’s educational theme makes it a great gift for animal lovers of all ages, and its educational theme makes it the perfect starter set for a new collector.
Includes serialized certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.

Packaging

Your specimen set comes in elegant book-style packaging, with a removable lens that allows for easy viewing of your coins.

Features

A world exclusive

We are the only mint that issues an annual set of coins in a specimen finish (brilliant/frosted relief against a lined background). Every denomination of Canadian circulation coinage is represented in this Specimen Set, which continues to be one of the most popular sets produced each year by the Royal Canadian Mint.

Limited-edition specimen dollar

The set’s specimen dollar features a portrait of the greater sage-grouse, an endangered species that inhabits the same grassland ecosystem as the swift fox featured in 2022. The specimen dollar is exclusive to this set—it is not available for individual purchase.

Specifications

Product Number 206339

Mintage 30,000

Finish Specimen

Packaging Book-style packaging with removable lens

Series Set

Composition Three-ply brass plated steel

Weight 6.27 g

Diameter 26.5 mm

Edge Plain

Artist David Caesar (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Composition Outer ring: Nickel-plated steel, Inner core: Three-ply brass finish plated aluminum bronze

Weight 6.99 g

Diameter 28 mm

Edge Interrupted serrations

Artist Brent Townsend (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Composition Three-ply nickel finish plated steel

Weight 6.9 g

Diameter 27.13 mm

Edge Reeded

Artist Cathy Bursey-Sabourin (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Composition Three-ply nickel finish plated steel

Weight 4.4 g

Diameter 23.88 mm

Edge Reeded

Artist Emanuel Hahn (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Composition Three-ply nickel finish plated steel

Weight 1.75 g

Diameter 18.03 mm

Edge Reeded

Artist Emanuel Hahn (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Composition Three-ply nickel finish plated steel

Weight 3.95 g

Diameter 21.2 mm

Edge Plain

Artist G. E. Kruger Gray (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2012, Canada’s greater sage-grouse population was estimated at just 93 to 138 individuals. Habitat loss and degradation due to human activities are key reasons for the decline of this species, which was designated as endangered in Canada in 1998 and is protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

There are only five known leks (traditional dancing/mating grounds) in Canada: two in Saskatchewan and three in Alberta. From March until May, large numbers (up to 70 or more) of sage-grouse congregate on these leks, where the males compete for the best spots to stage their courtship displays for visiting females.

The male’s efforts to attract a mate involve a series of struts, coos, wing swooshes, raised feathers, and the inflation of two yellow air sacs on its chest. When deflated, those sacs make a loud “pop”—like the uncorking of a champagne bottle—and the sound can be heard up to 3 kilometres away!

Sagebrush is critical to the survival of the greater sage-grouse, which was named for the silver-tinged shrub. About 60% of an adult’s summer diet and 100% of its winter diet consists of sage leaves, stems and buds. The aromatic shrub also serves as a nesting site and provides cover from predators.

Design & Artist

Designed by Canadian artist David Caesar, the set-exclusive specimen dollar features a depiction of a male greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) performing its elaborate courtship display in its sagebrush (genus Artemisia) habitat. The obverse features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. The obverse also bears a special marking that includes four pearls symbolizing the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins and the double date of her reign.

David Caesar, Artist

Drawing and painting the birds of Canada has been a passion of mine for many years now. While climate change is a looming crisis, the loss of species diversity is, arguably, even more urgent. The startling appearance of the greater sage-grouse is an invaluable reminder to us that this diversity is remarkably wide, wonderful and sacred.

David Caesar, Artist

Colleen Baird, Senior Manager, Animal Care, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

We are extremely proud to lead Canada’s only reintroduction breeding program for the greater sage-grouse along with our dedicated partners. With less than 250 individuals left in the wild, this prairie bird urgently needs our help, and we are up for the challenge. From young chicks to adults out in the wild, our team is supporting the grouse through conservation breeding, reintroduction, and monitoring, so that the greater sage-grouse can call the prairies home once again.

Colleen Baird, Senior Manager, Animal Care, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

Don McKinnon, Conservation Research Population Ecologist, Wilder Institute

Standing out in the sagebrush sea of Alberta and Saskatchewan, I cannot imagine the landscape without this iconic species. Greater sage-grouse are part of our Canadian heritage, a key component of our prairie ecosystem and one of our nation’s most endangered species. While they still face many challenges and we know that success is not guaranteed, by continuing with scientific research, management actions and collaboration with others, our path forward shows promise.

Don McKinnon, Conservation Research Population Ecologist, Wilder Institute

Suzanne Kasnakian, Product Manager, Royal Canadian Mint

It was a pleasure to uncover this prairie species, the greater sage-grouse. Introducing this conservation story to Canadians sheds light on the efforts to preserve this beautiful bird for future generations. I want to thank the team at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo for their support in telling this story.

Suzanne Kasnakian, Product Manager, Royal Canadian Mint

Matt Bowen, Engraver

This is such a great series for an engraver! The specimen dollar has a fairly low relief of 0.15mm and minimal frosting, so the sculpting needs to be both realistic and artistic. With its puffed downy chest and complex camouflage, the Greater Sage Grouse is a wonderful example of this, because we use a change in height to depict the feather markings. It was definitely a challenging project, but among my favourites of the year.

Matt Bowen, Engraver