(Pre-Order) 2026 Canada $20 Sable Island Horses Fine Silver (No Tax)

The Sable Island horse has roamed freely for generations, largely untouched by human influence on a remote sandbar off the coast of Nova Scotia. These wild horses have called Sable Island home for nearly 300 years, surviving in isolation and sometimes harsh weather; when a proposed removal sparked a public outcry, formal protections were put in place in 1961 to ensure they remained free and undisturbed. Their enduring spirit is captured on this fine silver coin’s reverse, where the image of a galloping stallion inspires awe and reverence for these creatures who are strong and free, the cherished symbols of resilience, independence and survival.

Running wild and free: Celebrate a Canadian equine icon.

Descended from horses introduced in the 1700s, the Sable Island horses faced permanent removal from the island in 1960 when the government proposed to sell the horses due to concerns over malnutrition, inbreeding and harsh conditions. The news touched off a wave of public outcry. Moved by the letters he received from concerned Canadians of all ages, then-Prime Minister John Diefenbaker intervened, and the horses gained protected status in 1961 through an amendment to the Canada Shipping Act, ensuring their survival and permanent place on the island.

“These particular animals have a long genealogy. They have been with us over a period of several hundred years, and I was naturally very much touched by some of the requests that were made. I had the matter looked into, and I think it may be said with certainty that these animals and their posterity will continue to live on this island.” - The Right Honourable John George Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada from 1957 to 1963, during a House of Commons debate on June 2, 1960.

In 2013, Sable Island became a National Park Reserve, bringing the island and its famous horses (a naturalized species) under the protection of the Canada National Parks Act, and under the responsibility of Parks Canada.

The reverse design is based on the photograph The Stallion and the Sea taken by Canadian equine photographer Sandy Sharkey during a visit to Sable Island, Nova Scotia, in 2014. The image shows one of the island’s famous wild horses, a stallion, galloping at full speed on the sandy beach. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

The Sable Island horse has roamed freely for generations, largely untouched by human influence on a remote sandbar off the coast of Nova Scotia. These wild horses have called Sable Island home for nearly 300 years, surviving in isolation and sometimes harsh weather; when a proposed removal sparked a public outcry, formal protections were put in place in 1961 to ensure they remained free and undisturbed. Their enduring spirit is captured on this fine silver coin’s reverse, where the image of a galloping stallion inspires awe and reverence for these creatures who are strong and free, the cherished symbols of resilience, independence and survival.

Running wild and free: Celebrate a Canadian equine icon.

Special features

• 65 years of protected status. An inspiring symbol of wild strength and survival, the Sable Island horse is a cherished Canadian icon that gained federal protection 65 years ago, in 1961.
• Based on a photograph. The coin’s photorealistic engraved design is based on the photograph The Stallion and the Sea taken by equine photographer Sandy Sharkey during a visit to Sable Island in 2014.
• An overdue exploration of the theme. This return trip to Sable Island is long overdue—the last time the Sable Island horse was featured on a Canadian coin was in 2006, 20 years ago. This coin is an opportunity to revisit the story in 2026 and introduce it to a new wave of collectors.
• An inspirational story worth revisiting. The enduring legacy of the Sable Island horse is one of strength and resilience, while the many heartfelt letters that compelled then-Prime Minister John Diefenbaker to intervene in 1960 are, in his own words, “an example of the processes of good citizenship.”
• Immortalized in fine silver. The coin is crafted in 1 oz. of 99.99% pure silver.
• A limited work of art. Only 7,000 coins are available to collectors worldwide.
• No GST/HST.

Packaging

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