2025 Canada $20 Folk Singer by Daphne Odjig Fine Silver (No Tax)

2025 Canada $20 Folk Singer by Daphne Odjig Fine Silver (No Tax)

An homage to the colourful and expressive style of artist Daphne Odjig.

Daphne Odjig (1919-2016) was not only one of the most celebrated artists active in Canada in the 20th century, but a pathbreaking advocate for Indigenous art and culture. A self-taught artist, her immense portfolio includes everything from minimalist fine-line sketches to massive paintings blazed with bold colour.

In 2025, Daphne Odjig becomes the first First Nations woman artist honoured on a Canadian circulation coin, whose reverse design is expanded on this 99.99% pure silver piece. The larger diameter (38 mm) allows for the inclusion of additional elements from her original work Folk Singer, such as the powerful bird figure not seen on the $2 coin, while selective colour pays homage to Odjig’s bold colour palette and spellbinding art style.

A Daphne Odjig original, immortalized in fine silver.

Born on Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, Odjig was known both for her highly stylized monumental representations of major themes in First Nations culture and history, and tender renderings of love, family, and community. Accented by flowing lines and curving contours learned from her stone-carver grandfather, her vividly original style remains unique.

This 1-oz. fine silver coin’s larger diameter (38 mm) allows for more details from the original print to be included on the reverse—details such as the bird figure, which isn’t visible on the $2 coin but is brought to life here by engraved facets and sharp drafts.

Odjig’s bright, vibrant colours evoke emotion and convey meaning, so it was important for our tribute to include an application of colour on the reverse, where the bold hues highlight the female figure.

Instead of the fisher drawing seen on the circulation piece, this fine silver coin incorporates Odjig’s signature (top right).

The reverse design is adapted from Folk Singer, by acclaimed First Nations artist Daphne Odjig (1919-2016), whose signature is reproduced on the right. The depiction shows a bird figure wrapping its large, engraved wings around the selectively coloured female figure, who is holding a drum. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

Specifications:
RCM Number: 251216
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Mintage:7,500
Weight: 31.39 g
Diameter: 38 mm
Finish: Proof
Edge: Serrated
Face Value: $20
Artists: Daphne Odjig (reverse), Steven Rosati (obverse)

Special Features:

• Exceptional art, exceptional artist. In 2025, Daphne Odjig becomes the first First Nations woman artist honoured on a Canadian circulation coin, which is the inspiration for this fine silver piece. Through her colourful works and advocacy, Odjig worked to put Indigenous art on an equal footing with other fine arts, and was one of the most important artists active in Canada in the 20th century.
• Painting a story. Both the $2 circulation piece and this 99.99% pure silver coin are based on Odjig’s Folk Singer, which is representative of the bold line and colour work that characterized much of her work.
• Low mintage. Like a limited-edition print, your fine silver collectible is one of 7,500 coins available to collectors worldwide.
• Includes serialized certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.
• No GST/HST.

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

Folk Singer and the fisher as it appears in The Indian in Transition are adapted with permission from Stan Somerville.