Despite being synonymous with the Ice Age, you won’t find Smilodon perched atop a glacier—this prehistoric big cat preferred warmer climes. Its fossils are among the most common ones found in the tar pit deposits of California, but its range extended across ice-free areas of North, Central and South America. In 2019, a 35,000-to-40,000-year-old bone became the first verified evidence of Smilodon fatalis’ existence in the prehistoric plains of southern Alberta, before becoming extinct at the end of the Pleistocene epoch, around 11,700 years ago.

Special Features

• Includes two cutting-edge security features: precise radial lines and a micro-engraved lasered maple leaf with the numeral “23” (visible under magnification) to denote the coin’s year of issue.
• Masterfully crafted by Royal Canadian Mint engravers using a variety of engraving techniques and finishes, which bring depth and texture to this unforgettable portrait of the fearsome Ice Age carnivore.
• An attractive acquisition for both first-time precious metal buyers and long-term investors.
• No fixed mintage.