2013 Canada $20 Fine Silver Coin – A Story of the Northern Lights: The Great Hare

Watch the northern lights come alive in this 2013 $20 fine silver coin, where a hologram sweeps colour across a moonlit winter landscape. Métis artist Nathalie Bertin's reverse design renders the Odawa legend of Nanahboozho — the Great Hare — seated by his fire, whose sparks rise into the night sky to become the aurora borealis. The holographic treatment shifts through greens, pinks and violets as the coin turns.

Struck in 99.99% pure silver with a proof finish, this piece pairs Indigenous storytelling with the Mint's holographic craftsmanship. It arrives complete in its original Royal Canadian Mint maroon clamshell case with certificate of authenticity.

Collector Specifications

• Country: Canada
• Year: 2013
• Denomination: $20
• Composition: 99.99% Pure Silver
• Weight: 31.39 g (1 troy oz)
• Diameter: 38 mm
• Finish: Proof with holographic treatment
• Edge: Serrated
• Certificate: Included
• Condition: Excellent — pristine proof surfaces with no visible wear or toning, sealed in original mint capsule and packaging
• Designer: Nathalie Bertin (reverse); Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Historical Significance

This coin belongs to the Royal Canadian Mint's "A Story of the Northern Lights" series, which pairs the aurora borealis with Indigenous oral traditions explaining its origin. The Odawa tell of Nanahboozho, the Great Hare, a central figure across Anishinaabe storytelling — a creator, teacher, and trickster whose fire in the north still lights the sky. Designer Nathalie Bertin, a Canadian artist of Métis heritage, brings that account to the coin's surface.

Why We Love This One

Tilt it and the whole sky changes colour — photos really don't do the hologram justice. We love that it tells a real Odawa story instead of just showing the lights.

Please note: this item is sold as is, including its packaging. The photos show the exact piece you will receive.