Birds of a Feather

On June 4, the Royal Canadian Mint released the fourth issue in its Colorful Birds series. The .9999-fine silver $20 coin depicts the American goldfinch in selective color. Designed by Tony Bianco, the reverse features the bright yellow bird perched on a cluster of purple aster flowers with a barn in the background. Steven Rosati’s effigy of King Charles III appears on the obverse. The American goldfinch breeds throughout southern Canada, and only males have the vibrant yellow plumage known to the species. 

“I’ve been a bird watcher since I was a youth, and one of my favorites has always been the goldfinch,” Bianco says. “Pairing the striking yellow, black, and white with the soft lavender of the aster flower makes a natural and striking combination.”

A version of this article appears in the August 2024 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).