2025 $20 Celebrating Canada's Diversity: Strength and Abundance Fine Silver Coin

2025 $20 Celebrating Canada's Diversity: Strength and Abundance Fine Silver Coin

More than 500 years after Italian explorer John Cabot first reached these shores, Canada is home to one of the largest Italian diasporas in the world, with over 1.5 million Canadians claiming Italian ancestry. Generations of Italian Canadians have influenced Canada’s cultural and economic fabric with contributions to literature, music, science, and more, while the many “Little Italy” neighbourhoods remain proud symbols of community, strength, and an abundance of customs that are steeped in history.

This 99.99% pure silver coin features a circular arrangement of elements that form a symbolic representation of the Italian-Canadian community. Framed by repeating emblems representing two cultures coming together, the five-pointed Stella d’Italia is adorned with simulated Italian red coral and positioned at the centre, similar to how it appears in the emblem of the Italian Republic. The emblem also inspired the Renaissance-style pattern appearing on both the reverse and obverse, where olive branches represent peace and abundance, and oak leaves symbolize strength. 

June is Italian Heritage Month in Canada! It is an opportunity to honour the culture and history of Italian Canadians, and the contributions they have made to Canada and Canadian society.

Italian red coral has been harvested and used for ornamentation since ancient times, and it continues to be an important industry in coastal regions of Italy—especially in Torre del Greco, a port town renowned for its coral workshops and artisans. As a sought-after jewellery material, red coral is traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, and it is often used to craft amulets, such as the horn-shaped cornicello that protects against the “evil eye.” Some also believe it to have healing and high-energy qualities. 

Each hexagonal honeycomb cell serves as both a storehouse and a nest for larvae, and it isn’t just the honey bee that builds nests with hexagonal cells—wasps do it, too. The shape, which has inspired architects and engineers, provides several advantages, such as excellent strength-to-weight ratio, thermal insulation, space efficiency and structural stability, while minimizing the amount of building material (beeswax) required.

The reverse design by Canadian artist Tony Bianco combines design elements drawn from Italian heritage to form a symbolic representation of the Italian-Canadian community. It centres on the five-pointed symbol of Italy, the Stella d’Italia, which is topped with simulated Italian red coral. Between the Roman columns emanating from the star points, a Renaissance-style pattern includes two elements inspired by the emblem of the Italian Republic: the oak leaf that symbolizes strength, and the olive branch representing peace and abundance. The five columns support a row of arches that form the outer edge; inspired by the Roman Colosseum, these arches frame the repeating Stella d’Italia and the Canadian maple leaf that represent two cultures coming together. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

Specifications:
RCM Number: 251113
Mintage: 5,500
Composition: 99.99% pure silver with simulated Italian Red Coral
Weight: 31.39 g
Diameter: 38 mm
Face Value: $20
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Artist: Tony Bianco (reverse), Steven Rosati (obverse)

Special Features:

• The five-pointed Stella d'Italia, one of the national symbols of Italy, is prominently featured on the coin's reverse, where Roman columns support the row of arches framing the emblems of Canada and Italy.
• Simulated coral. On the coin's reverse, the colourful centrepiece is simulated Italian red coral. Prized for its beauty and protective powers, Italian red coral is deeply embedded in Italian culture and tradition.
• The second fine silver coin in the Celebrating Canada's Diversity series that began in 2019. The series was expanded in 2024 to include a 1 oz. 99.99% pure silver version of the annual gold issue.
• Mintage is limited to 5,500 coins worldwide - a lower mintage than 2024.
  

Packaging:
This coin is encapsulated and presented in a black Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.