When palaeontologists working in the Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia) uncovered teeth without a fossilized skeleton, they looked to other regions of the globe to find a match. Given that all the continents were connected during the Early Jurassic period, it is possible that a species from another continent could have roamed the landmass that is now Nova Scotia. The palaeontologists found their best possible match in Arizona (USA). Scutellosaurus (little shield lizard) was a small, ornithischian (bird-hipped) dinosaur, and this coin shows what it may have looked like according to current science—roughly one metre long with an extremely long tail and covered with small pieces of bony armour called “scutes.” Scutellosaurus’ teeth were positioned near the edge of its jaws, suggesting that it lacked well-developed cheeks to keep food in its mouth while chewing. Palaeontologists believe it was an early ancestor of armoured dinosaurs like ankylosaurs and stegosaurs.

Special features:
  •   Your coin is the second fine silver coin to feature a full, non-skeletal portrait of a dinosaur.
  •   Your coin features a finely engraved, life-like representations of this prehistoric creature discovered in Canada.
  •   Your coin features a proof finish and is beautifully enhanced by select finishes that highlight the textures of the dinosaurs body. Each ‘scute’ was individually polished to contrast the rest of the dinosaurs body!
  •   Your coin features the dinosaur’s latin name, Scutellosaurus, sunk into the coin as if carved into rock.

Design:
Your coin features an interpretation of what the Nova Scotian ornithischian (a small, bird-hipped dinosaur) may have looked like if similar to Scutellosaurus. The scientific accuracy of the depiction was verified by palaeontologists of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.

Country: Canada
Face value: 20 dollars
Metal: Silver .999
Weight: 31,39 g
Diameter: 38 mm
Quality: Proof, mint stage
Mintage: 8 500