DRAGON SAIL Norse Figureheads 1 Oz Silver Coin 20$ Canada 2018

The reverse of the coin is inspired by the saga of Leif Eriksson's voyage from Greenland to Vinland is design by Canadian artist Jean-Pierre Vallée. In the background, the rugged North Atlantic coast of present-day Canada rises up from the sea, and resembles some of the new shorelines spied during Eriksson's expedition circa AD 1000. In the foreground, a fearsome Norse dragon ship sails into view. The sea-level perspective places a special emphasis on the square mast and highly intricate woodworking that made a Viking ship both a technical and artistic marvel in its time. Ornate carvings of gripping beasts lead up to the dragon figurehead on the prow, which was intended to ward off evil spirits while adding to the ship's imposing appearance. A similar Norse art-inspired pattern of interlaced serpents is replicated on the selectively coloured frame, which surrounds the artistic interpretation of an early chapter in Canada's history. On the right of the reverse, the inscription: "2018" – the year of issue. The obverse of the coin depicts the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the inscriptions: "ELIZABETH II" – the name of the Queen, "CANADA" – the issuing country, "D·G·REGINA" – the latin acronym that stands for "Dei Gratia Regina" and "20 DOLLARS" – the face value.