2016 Canada $500 Dollar .9999 Silver 5 Kilo Coin Charles Edenshaw – Serial 009

Presenting an exquisite piece of numismatic art – a 2016 5 Kilogram Silver Coin titled ‘Charles Edenshaw: Argillite Chest’, minted by the globally respected Royal Canadian Mint. This remarkable coin, with the item number 155459, is a testament to the blend of superior craftsmanship and rich cultural heritage.

The coin’s design, inspired by Charles Edenshaw’s argillite chest, is a tribute to the Haida artist’s legacy, showcasing intricate details that reflect the depth and beauty of indigenous artistry. Struck from 5 kilograms of pure silver, this coin is not just a valuable asset but also a masterpiece to behold. We have included a photo with a 1 cent coin to show how incredibly impressive the 5 kilo is

What sets this coin apart is its exclusivity. With a strictly limited mintage of only 100 pieces worldwide, owning this coin signifies being part of a small, select group of collectors. Each coin comes in its original packaging from the Royal Canadian Mint, ensuring its pristine condition and authentication. This coin is serial number 009 which is a nice low number

Whether you’re an avid coin collector or an investor in precious metals, this coin is a sterling addition to any collection or portfolio. The combination of its cultural significance, artistic value, and the inherent worth of the silver makes it a unique and valuable asset.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of Canadian history and artistic brilliance. This coin is a must-have for anyone with a passion for collecting or investing in precious metals. Secure this rare gem today

This coin contains 5000 Grams of .999 Fine Silver for a total of 160.75 oz of Pure Silver

A little more about the history of the coin;

Your coin features a detailed interpretation by Royal Canadian Mint engravers, in consultation with Haida artist James Hart, of the 1882 Charles Edenshaw argillite box commissioned by Dr. Israel Wood Powell. The image centres on the central figure of the box: a lion with human hair and a humanistic nose and chin. Two human-like hands flank the face, which is encircled as though emerging from a cave. The background features flowing and organic ovoids, u-forms, and other key Haida forms as well as detailed negative space cross-hatching—all characteristic of Edenshaw’s work. The reverse is engraved with the word “CANADA” and the date “2016.” The obverse features the coin’s face value of “500 DOLLARS” as well as the weight and purity indicators “5 kg 9999” and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Tahayren: The Man Who Became Charles Edenshaw

Called Tahayren, the man who came to be known as Charles Edenshaw was born at Skidegate in British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii in 1839. In 1885, he became Chief Eda’nsa of the Eagle moiety. He and his wife,K’woiyang, were baptisedthat year and given the European names Charles and Isabella Edenshaw.

Edenshaw became one of the Haida’s most important cultural guardians at a time when the Haida people underwent immense challenges to their way of life—including the near-decimation of their population by smallpox in the 1860s. His devotion to Haida oral history and visual language helped to preserve theculture. Beyond creating some of the finest examples of Haida sculpture, Edenshaw assisted the researchers of his day in understanding Haida figures and stories. By the 1890s, he was known among collectors and anthropologists as the Haida’s greatest living carver and was being commissioned by museums to create original works and models of Haida monumental pieces, such as totem poles, to preserve theseartefacts before they disappeared.

Charles Edenshaw’s passion for and devotion to both his craft and the ways of his people continued to resonate long after his passing. He becamean inspiration to the generations of Haida artiststhat followed—including some of today’s most well-known artists of the West Coast, suchas James Hart, Bill Reid, and Robert Davidson.

Artistry in Argillite

Argillite is a rare product of the geology of Canada’s northwest coast. Found only in the Haida Gwaii, it is a form of extremely solidified clay. Because it is made of very fine, highly compacted particles, it does not share most shale’s tendency to split and chip—making it exceptionally well suited to carving. Though Haida carvers had long worked with this unique slate, its popularity among European customers transformed it into an important commodity in the nineteenth century.

Now held in the collection of the Museum of Vancouver,the argillite box from which this coin design was developed was originally created by Charles Edenshawand purchased by Israel Wood Powell, a businessman, doctor, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs for British Columbia (1872 to 1889), who was also an avid collector of the artefacts of the Haida and Tsimshian.  Mr. Powell commissioned this box, along with one other, to give to Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Louise, when she visited Victoria, British Columbia in 1882. The lion that appears on the box, along with the two boar heads at either end, are elements of the coat of arms of PrincessLouise’s husband, the Duke of Argyll. In the end, this box was not given to the princess but to Dr. Powell’s wife.