2015 Canadian $20 North American Sportfish: Rainbow Trout 1 oz Fine Silver Coin

2015 Canadian $20 North American Sportfish: Rainbow Trout 1 oz Fine Silver Coin

A native of the Pacific Basin, including parts of Asia and North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, Oncorhynchus mykiss is a popular game fish that has been introduced in many non-native locales across Canada and around the world. This beautiful species, though quite diverse in appearance depending on its habitat and diet, is normally green in colour with a spotted back and bright pink streak on its side. 

This member of the salmon family averages from 50 centimetres to just under 80 centimetres in length, weighing about 3.6 kilograms—but can reach very large sizes (up to 1.2 metres and 24 kilograms) under the right conditions. Its preferred natural habitat is gravel-bottomed, cool rivers and streams or lakes with sufficient vegetation for predatory coverage. Rainbow trout require fast-moving gravel-bottomed streams for spawning. Generally, river dwellers are not as large as lake dwellers.

Rainbow trout are strong predators that feed on water and land insects, small fish, and crustaceans. They are subdivided into about fifteen sub-species, including steelhead, which are the salt-water variety of rainbow trout. Steelhead bear genetic variations that allow them to adapt to life in salt water—a process known as smoltification. They are born in fresh water and return to their birthplace to spawn after undergoing this physiological adaptation to salt water. They are also iteroparous, which means they can spawn several times over their lifetime. Unlike their freshwater cousins, they are entirely silver in colour. 

A premium version of this rainbow trout was recently released on a stunning 1 oz platinum coin. The sportfish series also includes a 1 oz gold version of the first release, the largemouth bass.

Features

•  This last issue in the Royal Canadian Mint’s four-coin sportfish series features a beautifully detailed image of one of North America’s most sought-after sportfish: the rainbow trout. 
•  This fine silver proof coin has been expertly engraved and enhanced with a variety of polishes to accent the natural attributes of this beautiful species. 
•  Features edge lettering bearing the coin’s metal weight: “9999 Fine Silver 1 oz 9999 Argent pur 1 oz” 
•  A low mintage of only 6,500 makes this coin especially exclusive. 
•  An exciting gift for the anglers and sports lovers in your life! 
•  GST/HST exempt.

Design

Designed by Canadian artist Curtis Atwater, your coin presents a portrait of a rainbow trout in its natural habitat. The image centres around the rainbow trout, viewed from its left side. The front of its body is angled toward the viewer while its tail curls behind it and to the left in the background. This presentation highlights the trout’s unique torpedo-shaped body with small head, characteristic speckling, and shaded stripe along its side. The fish hovers near a fallen tree branch, which fills the background, in a shallow, gravel-bottomed river.

Packaging

Coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a graphic beauty box and Certificate of Authenticity.

Specifications