2023 Canada $20 125th Anniversary of Yukon Fine Silver (No Tax)

It was 125 years ago, in 1898, that the frenzied activity of the Klondike Gold Rush resulted in the creation of the Yukon Territory—a historic moment that is commemorated on this 99.99% pure silver coin. 

Yukon is truly one of Canada’s most extraordinary places. Here, rivers cut through dense forests, wildlife giants roam, and mountain peaks stretch so high, they seem to touch the midnight sun. It is the ancestral home of many dynamic First Nations who have lived in synch with nature’s cyclical rhythm since time immemorial, and who are revitalizing the ways and knowledge of the past that guide the way forward.

Breathtaking flora and fauna, a complex history, vibrant cultures—all of these contribute to the intricate beauty of Yukon, a territory that continues to proudly move to the beat of its own drum.

Yukon is home to 14 unique First Nations and eight language groups. Most Yukon First Nations follow a matrilineal kinship system: a child is born into their mother’s moiety, which is either Crow or Wolf (sometimes Eagle). Those two main moieties are represented on your coin, and the groups are socially required to help and establish close ties with one another.

Mountains are a defining feature of the landscape in central and southern Yukon, as represented on your coin—in fact, 17 of the 20 highest mountain peaks in Canada (including the tallest one, Mount Logan) are located in the territory!

The coin’s reverse by Tlingit artist Jean Taylor commemorates the 125th anniversary (“1898-2023”) of the creation of Yukon, and features imagery that is reflective of First Nations cultures and collective histories. With the midnight sun blazing in the northern sky above, and within the territory’s outline, an Indigenous woman singing and playing a drum represents First Nations traditions and cultural practices. Beneath her, the mountains are reminiscent of the landscapes of central and southern Yukon, while Wolf and Crow—moieties in the matrilineal kinship system observed by most Yukon First Nations—are also represented. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Specifications:
Item Number: 207163
Mintage: 5,000
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Weight: 31.39 g
Diameter: 38 mm
Face Value: $20
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Jean Taylor (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Special Features:
• A historic milestone. This year (2023) marks the 125th anniversary of the Yukon Territory Act, 1898, which created Yukon as a separate territory at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. It is an important historic event, one that shaped the Canada you know today!
• Viewed through the First Nations lens. More than just a commemoration, the coin’s reverse features a powerful expression of identity and culture. It is a highly symbolic, artistic representation of Yukon and life in the North, viewed through the lens of a Tlingit artist.
• Inclusive design! The design mixes deeply symbolic elements that reflect First Nations cultures in Yukon and their collective histories—from the mountains that dominate the territory’s southern landscapes, to the matrilineal moieties that reflect the complex social structure of most Yukon First Nations.
• Centuries of tradition. While the double dates “1898-2023” commemorates the anniversary of Yukon’s entry into Confederation, the artistic and cultural representation of Yukon is timeless. The imagery speaks to a people and a land with a long, rich history that predates Confederation.
• Pure silver! The coin is 99.99% pure silver and features a mirror-like proof finish that highlights the relief.
• Low Mintage! Limited to 5,000 coins worldwide.

Packaging:
The coin comes encapsulated and presented in a black clamshell case with black beauty box.