**Our final Wondrous Waters destination: the Great Lakes.**

The Great Lakes form the largest body of freshwater on Earth and they were the main arteries of early Canada—the freshwater seas upon which people and goods have travelled since time immemorial. Though we share these waters with the United States, the pristine wilderness of Canada’s Great Lakes region — so lovingly captured on this fourth coin—has done much to shape the world’s perception of Canada as a place teeming with life, including a number of beloved wildlife species that are regarded as quintessentially, and iconically, Canadian.

Coin #4 of 4: This is the Great Lakes basin. This is Canada.

Good to know

Canada in all its splendour. This Is Canada brings you some of the wonders and wildlife that are synonymous with this country. This is Canada—in the hearts and minds of Canadians, and in the eyes of the world.

The trip begins in 2024. A different theme is featured each year! In 2024, the theme is Wondrous Waters and there are four coins to collect. Complete your set!

From shore to shore. This is the last Wondrous Waters coin issued in 2024. Each piece features a different view of the bodies of water that surround Canada:

Classic Canadiana. A fun series for all ages, this coin-by-coin trip across Canada represents more than an armchair travel experience—it’s a year-long adventure in collecting.

Regional art. Crafted in 99.99% pure silver, each coin features a reverse design by a regional artist.

A guiding compass. The compass frame appears on every coin in this Wondrous Waters series. It is a symbol of curiosity, discovery and exploration. It’s also a visual reminder of just how vast Canada is!

Includes serialized certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.

No GST/HST.

Did you know?

The Great Lakes contain 18% of the world’s total surface freshwater. While Lake Erie is the smallest, Lake Superior is the largest, coldest and deepest of the five. Lake Superior contains about 12,100 cubic kilometres of water—more water than the other four Great Lakes combined!

Moose inhabit almost every Canadian province and territory—in fact, our moose population is estimated to be between 500,000 and 1,000,000. It’s one of the largest mammals in Canada (the polar bear is the largest), where it stays close to lakes, forests and marshes. Moose are known to be good swimmers and divers, and just like humans, they enjoy a cool dip on a hot summer day!

Behind closed doors

"I love Georgian Bay because it offers some of the most iconic Canadian scenery, with its windswept pines anchored atop islands of exposed Precambrian Shield. That landscape gave me a good excuse to incorporate the moose into the coin design, one of my very favourite subjects. I felt that these two elements—the moose and the landscape—would convey the raw beauty of the Great Lakes region."

—Claudio D’Angelo, Artist

About the design

Your coin is individually encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a graphic beauty box.

Your coin’s reverse captures the iconic beauty of the landscapes and vistas of the Great Lakes. Designed by Claudio D’Angelo, the idyllic setting was inspired by the rugged shoreline of Georgian Bay, and the scene features a moose (Alces alces) standing in water between rocky islands topped with windswept pines. Compass elements form a frame that contains the word “CANADA” and a face value of “20 DOLLARS”. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

Product # 246083

$20 Fine Silver Coin - This is Canada: Wondrous Waters - Great Lakes (2024)