2013 $20 Arctic Fox

Just a little larger than the average house, Vulpes lagopus, the Arctic fox, is a silent and prolific hunter. The Arctic Fox Pelt is unrivaled for warmth, sustaining it in temperatures below -50°C. Its fur is brown, gray-brown, blue-gray or dark blue during the warmer months. During the long Arctic winter, most turn pure white, although some populations show a lighter blue-gray during the winter phase. The fox's thick fur covers its small rounded ears and even the pads of its feet, for optimal warmth.

Designed by Canadian artist Tivadar Bote, your piece features a unique stylized image, inspired by wooden design, of an arctic fox against the symbolic elements of its Canadian habitat. The fox sits serenely in the foreground of the image, looking towards the left side of the field, its thick fur, fluffy tail, small ears and dog-like facial features beautifully rendered in stylized detail. In the background, patterns of circles, droplets and wavy rays rise from the image of a circular sun positioned directly behind the fox. The circles and droplets symbolize snow and light which are fundamental elements in the world of the arctic fox. The wavy rays refer to the warmth and brilliance of the sun, even in the Arctic landscape. The circularity of these elements echoes the circular field of the piece and indicates the cyclical nature of the arctic fox's life cycle. The outer frame is engraved with the Latin name of the species, "Vulpes lagopus", the word "Canada", the date "2013" and the face value of the coin being 20 dollars.