Canada-shaped coin issued by Royal Canadian Mint
Illustrator Alisha Giroux was drawing the map of Canada "for fun," when she noticed that its shape aligned with the shape with animals.
She turned Quebec into a snowy owl taking flight, and Ontario into a loon with its wings folded. British Columbia, meanwhile, became a spirit bear.
Giroux decided to design a two-colour version of her map for Canada's 150th anniversary and posted it online. About a year ago, she received a call from the mint, with an offer to have her design featured on a coin...
The coin also includes Giroux's initials just below a chickadee representing New Brunswick, something she said "hasn't quite sunk in."
The Royal Canadian Mint is now offering this 3 oz. pure silver Canada-shaped coin for $340. It's guaranteed to never fit in a vending machine.
That's Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse side of the coin.