Grow your personal art collection with a second Kwakiutl wood panel.

From the sky to the sea—the followup to 2024’s The Hunter, this 2 oz. 99.99% pure silver coin dives into the cool Pacific waters for an unforgettable view of the Orca, guardian of the sea. The selectively gold-plated design by Kwakiutl artist Jason Hunt is styled to resemble a hand-carved cedar panel, with the engraved woodgrain pattern and rope-shaped rim on both sides completing the look. On the reverse, the expressive forms and flowing lines convey chaos amid the waves, as the Orca hunts the Salmon on a moonlit night. It is an exquisite tribute to the guardian spirit that traditionally represents family and strength, and a gorgeous snapshot of Kwakwaka’wakw culture.

A continuation of 2024’s The Hunter.

Good to know

A stunning tribute to the guardian spirit. The followup to 2024’s The Hunter, this 2025 coin keeps the focus on Kwakwaka’wakw art and the Kwakiutl carving tradition while paying homage to the Orca, guardian of the sea.

Styled to resemble a Kwakiutl carved wood panel. Crafted in 2 oz. of 99.99% pure silver, your coin is styled to resemble a hand-carved Kwakiutl wood panel, with selective gold plating highlighting the formline style that is characteristic of Northwest Coast art.

Rope frame. For 2024’s The Hunter, we pushed the striking process to the limit by adding a decorative rim to both sides of the coin, and that cedar bark rope frame appears on this 2025 coin, too.

Woodgrain pattern. To complete the look, an engraved woodgrain pattern fills the field on both the reverse and the obverse.

A spotlight on Indigenous storytelling. Rich, diverse and full of meaning, Indigenous art in all its many forms is a visual representation of traditions carried forward, one generation at a time.

A proud artistic legacy. Artist Jason Hunt comes from a long line of internationally renowned Kwakiutl carvers and artists who have been instrumental in the survival and resurgence of Kwakiutl art.

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

No GST/HST

Did you know?

Artist Jason Hunt is of Kwaguilth descent and comes from a long line of internationally renowned Kwakiutl carvers and artists:

“A few years ago, I was part of an exhibition that included works by my grandfather, Henry Hunt, and my father, Stanley Clifford Hunt. When my father and I travelled home, we had to quarantine at my place, and as we sat and looked out on the water, we started talking about the exhibition. Almost instantly, an orca appeared and visited us for the next few days. I like to think it was my grandfather coming by to be a part of the conversation. I’ll cherish that experience forever, and it symbolizes what the Orca represents to me.”

Behind closed doors

“While creating this design, I had in mind some of my own personal experiences and interactions with orcas. I have had the pleasure of watching them hunt, play and feed. I have also wondered about what it must be like for them to hunt by moonlight in the evenings, and how surreal that would be to see. So, this design is showing the Orca hunting a Salmon under the Moon, with the design of the moon reflecting the chaotic nature of such events.”

– Jason Hunt, Artist

“It was truly exciting to bring this project to life, especially the emphasis on the Orca, a revered guardian spirit to the Kwakiutl peoples. The richness of its symbolism and deep connection to nature makes this piece incredibly meaningful. I hope our collectors will treasure this piece of art as much as we do, knowing it embodies the strength, wisdom and protection that the Orca represents.”

– Alicia Cook Sapene, Product Manager

“It’s super interesting to sculpt a project that has a high technical threshold! A rope-shaped coin rim is uncommon, so this was a challenging and compelling piece to work on. I just love Jason’s Kwakiutl aesthetic, and his designs translate wonderfully to a coin, so I was psyched to be tapped two years in a row to re-create his art in silver—first for The Hunter, and now The Ancestor.”

– Matt Bowen, Engraver

About the design

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

Designed by Kwakiutl artist Jason Hunt and rendered in the Northwest Coast formline style, the reverse depicts the Orca, guardian of the sea, hunting the Salmon by the light of the moon. To mimic the look of a carved Kwakiutl wood panel framed by cedar bark rope, the reverse and obverse both feature an engraved woodgrain texture and a rope along the rim. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

Product # 246173

$30 Fine Silver Coin - The Ancestor (2025)