2010 Canada $4 Fine Silver Coin – Dinosaur Collection: Dromaeosaurus

A 75-million-year-old predator, preserved in pure silver. This 2010 $4 coin from the Royal Canadian Mint's Dinosaur Collection depicts the fossilized skeleton of Dromaeosaurus — the “running lizard” of Alberta's badlands — rendered by artist Kerri Burnett with a selective aging effect that gives each coin the look of a genuine fossil embedded in stone. Because the patina is applied individually, no two coins age quite alike.

Developed in collaboration with the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and struck in 99.99% pure silver, the coin's authorized mintage was 20,000 — but only about 8,982 were actually sold, making it considerably scarcer than the stated cap.

Collector Specifications

• Country: Canada
• Year: 2010
• Denomination: $4
• Composition: 99.99% Pure Silver
• Weight: 15.87 g
• Diameter: 34 mm
• Finish: Proof with selective aging effect
• Edge: Serrated
• Certificate: See listing photos
• Condition: Individually photographed — you receive the exact coin shown; any imperfections are visible in the listing photos
• Mintage: 20,000 authorized (approx. 8,982 sold)
• Designer: Kerri Burnett (reverse); Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Historical Significance

Dromaeosaurus albertensis was first discovered near Alberta's Red Deer River in 1914, and its sharp recurved teeth and agile build made it one of the Late Cretaceous period's most efficient hunters. Canada's fossil beds rank among the world's richest, and this series — vetted for scientific accuracy by Royal Tyrrell Museum palaeontologists — brought that heritage to numismatics with a finish unlike anything the Mint had issued before.

Why We Love This One

An Alberta dinosaur on a Canadian coin — it doesn't get much more local than that. The aging effect is different on every coin, so the one in these photos really is one of a kind.

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