TIGER AND DRAGON Yin and Yang Silver Coin 8$ Canada 2016

The reverse design by Canadian artist Charles Vinh features the image of a tiger and a dragon locked in battle. At the centre of the coin is a square hole—a traditional motif used in Chinese minting to represent the Earth and the national landmass. Above the hole, the stylized yinyang symbol, created through the use of different finishes, underscores the coin's central theme. This symbol is surrounded by elemental flames. On the left side of the image, the Tiger, its back to the viewer and its face turned in profile to the Dragon on its right, crawls in typical defensive stance amid stylized scrollwork. On the right, the Dragon is presented in profile, facing the Tiger to its left. Its claws are raised and its scale-covered body coils to attack. The obverse design, also by Charles Vinh, features two elaborately carved phoenixes—fittingly associated with the feminine, the Empress, and the Queen when juxtaposed with the Dragon featured on the reverse of the coin. The phoenixes flank each side of the central square hole, above which is the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. The effigy is engraved within a smooth polished circle that is detailed on each side with stylized scrollwork. This scrollwork is continued in elaborate detail on the bottom half of the obverse field.