The Beaver's Legacy: 50 Years as a National Symbol of Canada
- Mar 19, 2025
- Canadiana
- 2 minute read
Over the centuries, many symbols have become synonymous with our Canadian identity, but only a select few have earned the title as official national emblems. Long before “O Canada” filled our stadiums as our national anthem, and before hockey and lacrosse were crowned our national sports, one industrious animal had already built a legacy: the beaver (Castor canadensis).
Over the centuries, many symbols have become synonymous with our Canadian identity, but only a select few have earned the title as official national emblems. Long before “O Canada” filled our stadiums as our national anthem, and before hockey and lacrosse were crowned our national sports, one industrious animal had already built a legacy: the beaver (Castor canadensis).
From the 17th to the mid-19th century, the beaver was more than just an animal. It was at the centre of the fur trade that was the economic engine of pre-Confederation Canada. Owing to its important role in this nation’s history and already a cultural icon, the beaver was proclaimed an official symbol of the sovereignty of Canada on March 24, 1975, when the National Symbol of Canada Act received royal assent.
In 2025, we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the beaver’s status as an official emblem with the release of several stunning collectible coins. Each one honours the legacy of Castor canadensis and showcases innovative techniques that embody the beaver’s ingenuity and industrious nature.
March 2025 – The Multilayered Beaver
The iconic beaver from our five-cent circulation coin design has been given its own space to shine on this 99.99% pure silver coin, which features layers of engraving—not just on the coin’s surface, but on its interior, too.
This is made possible by Multilayered Engraving, an innovative minting technique pioneered by our team of engineers in early 2020 (From the R&D Lab: Multilayered Polar Bear). By separating the art into individual layers of engraving, this multidimensional approach brings renewed appreciation for a classic Canadian coin design.
More coins to come in 2025 ...
One of the only mammals (other than humans) known to manufacture its own environment, the beaver is an ecosystem engineer, and its building and logging activities are key to maintaining the health of our wetlands. While the fur trade helped build Canada, it also resulted in the near extinction of the beaver, which has since made a comeback across the country.
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