2011 Canadian $20 Crystal Series: Hyacinth Red Small Crystal Snowflake Fine Silver Coin

2011 Canadian $20 Crystal Series: Hyacinth Red Small Crystal Snowflake Fine Silver Coin

Anticipation builds as the sky turns grey—and finally releases the season’s first snowfall. A cascade of crystalline stars drifts down to earth in the hush of winter’s still crisp air; it will take a million of them to cover 60 square centimetres of ground with 25 cm of snow.

Children eagerly transform snowflakes into snowmen, forts and snowballs while cameras focus on their breathtaking shapes and scientists study their formation and how they influence everyday life in Canada.

Snowflakes are born high in the atmosphere. They start out as tiny molecules of water vapour that freeze around particles in the air. As they fall, they stick to each other and grow larger, shaped by the wind, moisture and temperature. Each snowflake follows a different path and is affected by the elements in different ways. As a result, no two snowflakes are exactly alike—each one boasts a beauty and design all its own.

Specifications

Face Value: $20
Mintage: 15000
Composition: 99.99% Silver
Weight (g): 31.39
Diameter (mm): 38
Finish: Proof