Canadian Horse Immortalized

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Photo courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mint.

The year 2015 marks the 350th anniversary of the introduction of the Canadian horse. Robust, resilient, and good-natured, the petit cheval de fer — the “little iron horse,” as it became known in its native Quebec — has survived near extinction to emerge as one of Canada’s official national symbols. The Royal Canadian Mint proudly celebrates the anniversary of its introduction with a unique half-kilogram coin of 99.99 per cent pure silver.

Designed by Alberta artist Michelle Grant, the coin features a portrait of three Canadian horses running through a cascade of maple leaves. The coin underscores the diverse history of the Little Iron Horse that is so intertwined with the development of Canada.
www.mint.ca