The Royal Canadian MintB次元官网网址檚 first coin in its new sterling silver This Is Canada series should look very familiar to people in the B.C. coast.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 because the coastal scene of a pod of killer whales was painted by a local artist who has lived in this environment all his life.

Campbell River artist Glen Green was chosen to create the image on the first coin of the seriesB次元官网网址� Wondrous Waters theme. The theme is depicted in a four-part exploration of the waters that surround Canada and begins with the Pacific Ocean.

B次元官网网址淚 basically used the background from this area here,B次元官网网址� Green said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been in Campbell River for not-quite seven years but weB次元官网网址檝e got a cabin on Cortes (Island) and IB次元官网网址檝e been (going) there since I was 15 years old. So, like, I know the coast.B次元官网网址�

The includes three other coastal regions: Arctic Coast, Atlantic Coast and the Great Lakes. They are all designed by artists from the regions, are 99.9 per cent silver, have a face value of $20 and sell for $104.95.

B次元官网网址淎 new annual series, This Is Canada brings you the wonders and wildlife that are synonymous with this country. This is Canada B次元官网网址� in the hearts and minds of Canadians, and in the eyes of the world,B次元官网网址� the Royal Canadian MintB次元官网网址檚 website says.

An artist from each of the regions depicted was chosen but Green explains that you have to compete for the commission by submitting proposed images.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 ever get chosen outright,B次元官网网址� Green said. B次元官网网址淵ou have to compete for it.B次元官网网址�

Green is familiar with working for the mint, he has done a number of commissions over the years, going back to 2007 when he was first contacted to contribute to a series of coins commemorating the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

B次元官网网址淚 actually probably started, I think, when they called me in 2007 to look into these coins for the Olympics and ever since then IB次元官网网址檓 sort of wondering, B次元官网网址極h, thatB次元官网网址檚 a good gig,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

When the Royal Canadian Mint contacted him back then, Green didnB次元官网网址檛 know how he had became known to them. It turned out that somebody else was doing work for the mint at the time and they asked him about other artists.

B次元官网网址淗e just said my name, I donB次元官网网址檛 even know who the fellow was, really,B次元官网网址� Green said.

Once he did the Olympic coins, which were a series of quarters, Green was now on a list of their go-to artists and has been doing coins ever since. YouB次元官网网址檝e probably had some of his coins in your pockets.

Besides the Olympic coins, he did a series for the mint on a Canadian federation and travel theme depicting modes of transportation like a boat, trains and a plane. He likes to point out his de Havilland Beaver floatplane image the mint used because itB次元官网网址檚 an image strongly connected to Campbell River with its history of floatplane travel and the restored floatplane on display on Highway 19 as it enters the city.

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Again, youB次元官网网址檝e probably seen the coin many times.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 literally millions of them out there. YouB次元官网网址檒l probably have one in your pocket,B次元官网网址� he said.

And while the mint work is a B次元官网网址済ood gig,B次元官网网址� he, sadly, doesnB次元官网网址檛 get paid for every coin his image is on.

B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, you donB次元官网网址檛 get a royalty for every coin,B次元官网网址� he said.

Green has made a living with his art on coins, Bradley Exchange plates and in paintings of . HeB次元官网网址檚 painted Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, Rocket Richard, Jean Belliveau, Michael Jordan and Mark McGwire, among many others. Last year he did a painting of Carolina Hurricanes former-captain, now-coach and Campbell River product Rod BrindB次元官网网址橝mour which was auctioned at the which is a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research and which BrindB次元官网网址橝mour has supported since itB次元官网网址檚 inception 26 years ago.

Born and raised in North Vancouver, Green moved to Campbell River seven years ago but has been passing through the area since he was 15 when his parents bought a recreational property on Cortes Island, which he now co-owns.

When he produced an image for the mint to consider for its This Is Canada series, he got compliments on its accuracy. He shrugs them off saying itB次元官网网址檚 where he lives.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not like I donB次元官网网址檛 know what IB次元官网网址檓 doing here,B次元官网网址� he says with a smile.

The image on the coin depicts a pod of orca that includes a calf and, again, he impressed experts the mint brought in to vet the image, like they do.

B次元官网网址淭he expert came back and said I nailed it,B次元官网网址� Green said. B次元官网网址淗e thought it was great.B次元官网网址�

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