OGYGOPSIS – ANCIENT CANADA – 2017 $20 1 oz Fine Silver Antique Finish Coin
 
Roughly 500 million years ago, early arthropods known as trilobites thrived in the ancient seas that covered our planet during the Cambrian Period. Today, their remains are the object of study and fascination—especially on the reverse of this splash-struck coin, where an old coin-minting technique and an antique finish set the mood for this exploration of Canada’s prehistoric past!
 
SPECIAL FEATURES
HISTORY PRESERVED—AND IN THE MAKING! Second in the series featuring splash-struck coins. Using an old technique, the 99.99% pure silver is allowed to “spill” out and give the coin an irregular shape—just like an ancient Roman coin!
A MINIMUM DIAMETER OF 38MM: Due to its irregular shape, your coin may be larger and flatter.
OUTSTANDING DETAIL AND ATTENTION TO ACCURACY! Verified by palaeontologists at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology! Precision engraving accurately re-creates the fossil remains AND the textured appearance of their shale encasement—just like the real thing!
ANTIQUE FINISH GIVES IT AN AGED LOOK! A stunning patina finish has been painstakingly applied to your coin by hand for an antiqued look that reflects the series’ historical theme!
 
DESIGN
The reverse design is based on fossils curated at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta, and has been reviewed for scientific accuracy by palaeontologists at the Museum. The rimless coin’s unusual contour is the result of an old coin-minting technique that allows the fine silver to “spill” out and form an irregular shape, much like an ancient Roman coin. Further bridging the past with the present, a combination of cutting-edge technology and finishing techniques re-create the articulated dorsal exoskeleton of a young Ogygopsis klotzi—specifically, that of a presumed moult. The precision-engraved depiction of these fossils has added shine next to the textured appearance of its “rock” encasement. A patina finish gives the entire design an ancient look and feel, which is enhanced by the use of a prehistoric-looking font on both the reverse and obverse.
 
PACKAGING
Since the coin’s irregular shape won’t fit within a typical capsule, we’re taking the unprecedented step of packaging it in a ready-to-display floating frame! Measuring 80 mm x 80 mm x 34 mm, this framed presentation makes for one-of-a-kind wall art and a sure conversation piece—it will seem like the fossil is embedded in your wall! Plus, the coin’s antique finish is sealed in lacquer and has the side benefit of minimizing the appearance of fingerprints, should the coin be removed from its frame.