A Paddle Awaits – 2017 $20 En Plein Air Silver Coin

Description

A Paddle Awaits is the final release in the Royal Canadian Mint’s beloved En Plein Air series, a three-coin tribute to painting outdoors and to Canada’s deep emotional bond with nature. Struck in 1 oz of 99.99% pure silver and presented in an extra-large 60 mm format, this 2017 issue immerses the viewer in a tranquil summer lakeside scene where art, memory, and landscape merge.

Designed to make the collector feel like the artist, the reverse places you at the water’s edge, gazing toward a quiet dock and a kayak waiting for a late-afternoon paddle. Through the masterful use of Texturized Colour and Canvas Effect technologies, the scene gains depth and realism: raised elements mimic a painted canvas on an easel, while subtle surface textures recreate brushstrokes and woven canvas fibres.

With a limited worldwide mintage of just 5,500 coins, this visually rich silver issue is both a work of art and a celebration of Canada’s outdoor spirit.

Design Highlights

Reverse (Back)

• Cottage lakeside scene stretching edge-to-edge with no border

• Easel-mounted canvas positioned to make the viewer the painter

• Texturized Colour raises select elements for added depth

• Canvas Effect technology recreates the look and feel of real brushstrokes

• Design by Canadian artist Elizabeth Sim

Obverse (Front)

• Effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

• Designed by Susanna Blunt

Key Features

• Final Coin in the Series: Third and last release in the En Plein Air collection

• Large Artistic Format: Extra-thin 1 oz silver planchet with a 60 mm diameter

• Advanced Colour Technology: Combines Texturized Colour and Canvas Effect

• Low Mintage: Limited to 5,500 coins worldwide

• Pure Silver: Crafted in 99.99% fine silver

• Tax Advantage: GST/HST exempt

• Certified: Includes serialized Royal Canadian Mint certificate

Specifications

• Country: Canada

• Mint: Royal Canadian Mint

• Year: 2017

• Denomination: $20

• Metal: Silver

• Fineness: 0.9999

• Weight: 31.85 g (1 troy oz)

• Diameter: 60 mm

• Edge: Plain

• Finish: Proof

• Mintage: 5,500

• Product Number: 160977

• Artists:

  • Reverse: Elizabeth Sim

  • Obverse: Susanna Blunt

Packaging & Condition

• Packaging: Royal Canadian Mint maroon clamshell with black beauty box

• Presentation: Encapsulated with serialized certificate of authenticity

• Condition: Proof strike; capsule and outer packaging may show light handling marks

🪙 Why Collect This Coin?
A Paddle Awaits captures a universally Canadian moment—still water, warm light, and the promise of quiet adventure. As the concluding piece of the En Plein Air series, its artistic depth, innovative colour techniques, and low mintage make it a standout collectible for art lovers, nature enthusiasts, and silver coin collectors alike.