Canada 25 Cents Coloured Coin 2014 Harlequin Duck
Ducks of Canada series
This beautiful full-colour cupronickel coin features the Harlequin duck—the “fancy lord and lady” of Canada's east and west coasts. Named for the male's bright colouring, which resembles the clothing of the zany Harlequin character of traditional Italian commedia dell'arte, this pretty little duck is a strong swimmer with a distinctive mouse-like squeal. It winters on the rocky, isolated shores of Canada's east and west coasts, moving inland to fast-moving fresh-water streams for breeding season from May to September.
Histrionicus histrionicus is considered a species of conservation concern in Canada, especially in the east. It is a relatively uncommon duck remarkable for the male's colouring and its unique call. While the male bears slate blue, white, black, and russet plumage, the female and young are a more subdued brown, giving them camouflage against predators.
The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
This coin features a pair of Harlequin ducks standing on rocks in a fast-moving stream. Presented in profile, the brightly coloured male takes center stage, its characteristic blue and russet plumage marked with bright white lines and spots outlined in black. The white dot behind its eye and white colouring above its dark bill are shared by the female, who stands behind him on the left side of the image. Her light brown-grey body faces the viewer and her face is presented in profile, to highlight her facial markings. Both stand with their strong webbed feet spread sturdily atop small rocks covered with moss that jut from the freshwater rapids of their summer breeding habitat. The rapids rise behind the ducks, far into the background, lending the scene a dynamic feel. As with the other coins in this series, portions of the image extend past the inner frame of the reverse, giving the image a unique three-dimensional appearance.
Mintage: 17500.
Composition: cupronickel.
Finish: specimen.
Weight: 13.7 g.
Diameter: 35 mm.
Edge: plain.
Face value: 25 Cents.
Artist: Trevor Tennant (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse).
Manufacturer: Royal Canadian Mint.
Special features:
• Beautifully portrayed in full colour cupronickel coin highlights the uniquely colourful beauty of the Harlequin duck.
• The 4th coin in the Royal Canadian Mint's popular Ducks of Canada series.
• Celebrate the life and habits of a beloved Canadian species.
• A beautiful addition to any collection featuring fine artwork, natural images, native species of Canada, birds or Canadiana.
• A thoughtful and valuable collectible for nature lovers and art aficionados.
• The Harlequin duck is about 30 to 50 centimetres long and weighs less than a kilogram.
• Its surprising call sounds much like the squeak of a mouse, lending it the nickname “sea mouse” in some parts of its range.
The Harlequin spends its summers inland on the shores of fresh-water rapids. It nests on the ground or in tree or rock cavities near the water, generally returning to the same breeding site each year. The Harlequin feeds on invertebrates and fish and is a strong diver who hunts voraciously for insect larvae on stream bottoms. In autumn, the Harlequin migrates to the rocky, stormy Pacific and Atlantic coasts of British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and the Maritimes, where it feeds on crabs, mussels, fish eggs, and other prey that it pulls from crevices in shallow water.
