Storytelling has long been a rich oral tradition for Indigenous cultures. For the Anishinaabe, an important cultural character is Nanaboozhoo, a shapeshifting spirit who teaches right from wrong through his adventures while offering lessons on how to live in harmony with the natural world. This fine silver collectable coin illustrates the story of Nanaboozhoo and the Thunderbird, highlighted with gold plating. 

According to one legend, Nanaboozhoo turns himself into a rabbit and is swiftly carried up to the nest of the Thunderbirds in order to retrieve their feathers, which would make his hunting arrow very powerful. He steals these feathers from the young Thunderbirds while the parents are out hunting and returns to the earth, very much hurt from his high jump. When the older Thunderbirds learn of this deceit, they chase him across the land, but he takes cover within the hollow trunk of a birch tree. When the Thunderbirds eventually give up on their pursuit, Nanaboozhoo escapes and declares the birch tree a protector and benefactor of the human race. Today, you can still see the short black marks on birch tree bark made by the angry claws of the Thunderbirds; this is also why lightning never strikes a birch tree.

All collectable coins have been previously owned. Conditions will vary.

Metal Type: Silver

Purity: 99.99

Mint: RCM

Year: 2014

Mintage: 8,500

Diameter: 38 mm

Weight: 31.39g

Special Features: Gold plating

Packaging: RCM branded maroon clamshell with certificate

Artists: Cyril Assiniboine (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)