The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled one of its most innovative pieces for 2026: a silver coin that combines minting technology, art, and paleontology. Inspired by a significant discovery in Alberta, this issue recreates both the fossil of a young dinosaur and a scene from its life millions of years ago, offering a unique visual experience for collectors and natural history enthusiasts.
Image Royal Canadian Mint
A paleontological find turned into currency
The coin MintLAB – Exceptional Discoveries: Dinosaurs of Canada – Fine Silver Coin It is inspired by the discovery of a specimen of Gorgosaurus libratus found in 2009 in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta.
The fossil revealed an exceptional find: the remains of its last meal preserved within the stomach cavity. This discovery provided the first fossil evidence that juvenile tyrannosaurs had different feeding habits than adults, offering valuable insights into the behavior of these predators during the Late Cretaceous.
The coin seeks to tell that story from two perspectives: the discovery of the fossil and the reconstruction of the scene that occurred approximately 75 million years ago.
An innovative minting technology
One of the biggest attractions of this issue is the inclusion of Double-dimensional relief, a new technology developed by MintLAB that combines two minting techniques into a single coin.
The obverse uses Super Incuse, a relief sunken beneath the surface of the coin, while the reverse features Ultra High Relief, a raised relief that provides a remarkable sense of depth.
This combination allows the scientific process of the discovery to be represented on one side and the artistic reconstruction of the prehistoric world on the other, turning both sides into a complementary narrative.
Coin design
Obverse
The obverse, designed by Steven Rosati, shows an engraved representation of the skeleton of Gorgosaurus libratus, identified as the specimen “TMP 2009.12.14”, preserved at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.
Within the stomach cavity, the remains of Citipes elegans exactly in the position where they were found during the paleontological study. The design is surrounded by a deep excavation created using advanced technology. Super Incuse, simulating the archaeological site where the fossil was discovered in 2009. Below appears the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III.
Image Royal Canadian Mint
Reverso
The reverse side was created by the Canadian paleoartist Julius Csotonyi and represents a landscape of Alberta during the Late Cretaceous.
A young man appears in the scene. Gorgosaurus libratus chasing a Citipes elegans, both modeled using Ultra High ReliefThis gives it a three-dimensional appearance and highlights the action of the moment. The design offers an artistic interpretation based on scientific evidence about the interaction between predator and prey approximately 75 million years ago.
Image Royal Canadian Mint
Coin characteristics
This piece is minted in 99.99% pure silver and has the following specifications:
- Face value: 50 Canadian dollars.
- Weight: 156 grams.
- Diameter: 65.25 mm.
- Finish: Proof.
- Edge: fluted.
- Maximum print run: 647 monedas.
Each copy is presented encapsulated in a black case from the Royal Canadian Mint with an exclusive MintLAB presentation box and includes a numbered certificate with a photograph of the fossil that inspired the design.
A currency backed by science
Both the obverse and reverse were scientifically examined by the paleontologist Dr. François Therrien, Curator of Dinosaur Paleoecology at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and one of the researchers who participated in the study of the fossil.
The collaboration between paleontology specialists, artists, and the research and development team of the Mint made it possible to create a piece that combines scientific precision with numismatic innovation.
La MintLAB – Exceptional Discoveries: Dinosaurs of Canada – Fine Silver Coin It demonstrates how numismatics can become a means of preserving and disseminating important scientific discoveries. Thanks to its innovative minting technology, its design based on paleontological evidence, and its limited mintage, this issue from the Royal Canadian Mint represents an outstanding offering for both collectors and those who appreciate natural history and innovation in the art of coinage.
Learn all the details about this curious and novel coin on the official website:
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