2019 Canada $20 Norse Gods - Odin Fine Silver (No Tax)

Father of Thor and husband of Frigg, war-god Odin is the second of three Norse Gods featured in this series of antiqued coins, which explores Norse mythology and beliefs during Canada’s Viking Age (c. 1000 CE).

Wednesday is named for Odin (or Wodan in Old English), the widely revered “All-Father” of the Norse pantheon. The long-bearded ruler of Asgard is the god of war and death, poetry and wisdom—in fact, so great is Odin’s thirst for knowledge, that he famously sacrificed his own eye to drink from the Well of Wisdom.

Odin has three important attributes: his mighty spear, Gungnir; a gold ring (Draupnir) that multiplied itself; and an eight-legged gray horse (Sleipnir) that is the child of Loki, the trickster god, and Svadilfari, a giant stallion.

At Valaskjálf (Odin’s palace in Asgard), Odin sits on a throne known as Hliðskjálf. This high seat allows Odin to survey the world and see every act; he is also kept informed by the ravens Huginn and Muninn (both seen on the coin’s reverse).

Odin’s many offspring include Thor, the god of thunder; Baldr, god of light, happiness and beauty; and Víðarr, the silent god who avenged Odin’s death and killed Fenrir during the events of Ragnarök.

The reverse image by Alexandra Lefort finds Odin on his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. One of Odin’s raven informants, Huginn (“Thought”), is perched on his shoulder while the other, Muninn (“Memory”), flies alongside him. His two wolf companions, Geri and Freki, also accompany him. Selective gold plating highlights Odin’s helmet, arm guard and infallible spear (Gungnir), as well as two different emblems associated with the Norse god of war and wisdom: the Valknut (“knot of the fallen”) and the Triple Horn of Odin. The obverse features the gold-plated effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

Specifications:
Item Number: 171740
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Mintage: 3,500
Weight: 31.39 g
Diameter: 38 mm
Face Value: $20
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Alexandra Lefort (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)

Special Features:

• Second of three coins dedicated to powerful Norse gods.
• A new combination: Antiqued finish and selective gold plating on both sides.
• Norse art-inspired elements frame the obverse and reverse.
• Celebrate the folklore of Scandinavian Canadians.
• Like a relic of the past, the coin’s antiqued finish mimics the appearance of an aged artefact.
• Selective gold plating highlights the spear, helmet, and two different symbols (the Valknut and the Triple Horn) of Odin on the reverse. Gold plating also highlights key elements along the rim, as well as the effigy on the obverse.