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The Royal Canadian Mint's silver Canadian Wildlife Series: a favourite with Canadian collectors

May 8, 2026

For Canadians who appreciate both precious metals and the country's natural heritage, few bullion collections capture this connection as well as they do. the Royal Canadian Mint's Canadian Wildlife Series in silver. Launched between 2011 and 2013, this six-coin series quickly became one of the Mint's most popular silver bullion sets, combining investment-grade silver with detailed designs celebrating Canada's iconic wildlife.

Struck in 99.99 % pure silver and produced in limited quantities compared to standard bullion issues, these coins offer a unique combination of silver value, collectible potential and Canadian heritage.

A typically Canadian series of silver ingots

Visit Faune series in silver was first issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2011, combining the renowned silver purity of the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf with wildlife-themed designs featuring some of Canada's most iconic animals.

Each piece in the series features :

99.99% pure silver %
1 troy ounce (31.11 g)
Face value of 5 $ CAD
Non-circulating finish (uncirculated shine)
Effigy of Queen Elizabeth II

With a limited print run of just 1 million pieces per motif, the Canadian Wildlife Series was produced in much smaller quantities than the standard silver Maple Leafs. This limited production helped stimulate demand from collectors, both in Canada and internationally.

The six Canadian Wildlife Series silver coins

Grey Wolf (2011)

1 oz Timber Wolf silver coin from the Royal Canadian Mint's Silver Wildlife Series, depicting a standing wolf with trees and the moon in the background.

The first show in the series featured the mighty gray wolf, designed by the engraver William Woodruff. The wolf is a symbol of Canada's vast, undomesticated wilderness, and is found throughout northern Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon.

They roam the forests, tundra and remote mountain regions, making them particularly well adapted to Canada's northern and wilderness environments. Renowned for their intelligence, team spirit and distinctive howls, they remain one of the country's most recognizable predators and an important component of Canada's natural ecosystems.

Grizzly bear (2011)

Royal Canadian Mint's 1 oz grizzly bear silver coin from the Wildlife Series, depicting a grizzly bear facing right, mouth open and showing its teeth.

Also launched in 2011, the the grizzly bear highlights the rugged landscapes of Western Canada. Another design by William Woodruff, Grizzly bears are found mainly in British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

They prefer mountain ranges and dense forest regions, and are among Canada's largest land predators. Grizzly bears play an important ecological role in Western Canada, representing the strength, resilience and rugged beauty of the country's landscapes.

Cougar (2012)

Royal Canadian Mint 1 oz silver cougar coin from the Wildlife Series, depicting a cougar standing on a tree branch, showing its fangs.

The cougar of 2012, engraved by José Osio, The cougar is one of Canada's most elusive predators. Cougars are found mainly in British Columbia and parts of Alberta, where they inhabit forests and mountainous terrain.

Rarely seen in the wild due to their furtive and solitary nature, they are renowned for their agility and adaptability. As highly effective hunters and an important part of Canada's wildlife, cougars reflect the more remote and less visible side of the country's ecosystems.

Moose (2012)

Royal Canadian Mint Wildlife Series Silver 1 oz Moose Coin, depicting a moose facing left.

Few animals are as closely associated with Canada as the moose. This 2012 program, once again conceived by William Woodruff, features one of the country's most emblematic species.

Visit moose inhabit the forests and wetlands of Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and the Maritime provinces. Recognizable by their huge antlers and imposing size, they are deeply linked to Canada's outdoor culture and natural identity, and are often seen as a striking symbol of the Canadian wilderness.

American Antelope (2013)

Royal Canadian Mint Wildlife Series Silver 1 oz pronghorn antelope coin, depicting a pronghorn antelope standing in grass, facing right

The piece by American antelope, issued in 2013 and designed by Emily S. Damstra, In the past few years, the Antelope, as the name suggests, has introduced collectors to the wildlife of Canada's prairie regions. Despite its name, the pronghorn antelope is not related to antelopes and is found mainly in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan.

It roams the prairies and open plains and is recognized as North America's fastest land animal, designed for speed and endurance across vast open spaces. This species enhances the diversity of Canadian wildlife beyond the forests and mountains, and is a distinctive component of the Prairie ecosystem.

Wood Bison (2013)

Royal Canadian Mint Wildlife Series Silver 1 oz Wood Bison coin, depicting a wood bison, facing left, running through the snow.

The final piece in the series featured the wood bison, another creation by Emily S. Damstra. Wood bison reflect the strength and resilience of Canada's northern wildlife, and are found mainly in northern Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and northern British Columbia.

It inhabits boreal forests and prairies and once came close to extinction, but conservation efforts have helped to restore its populations. Today, it is an important symbol of Canada's commitment to protecting its natural heritage, and remains one of the most important large mammals in the country's north.

Why collectors and investors still love the Faune Series

More than a decade after its release, the Royal Canadian Mint's silver Fauna Series continues to attract interest. Part of this appeal comes from the balance between bullion value and collectible potential.

For Canadian collectors, the series conveys a strong sense of national identity. Each show highlights a different region and ecosystem of the country, from the forests of Ontario and Quebec to the plains of Saskatchewan, to the wilderness of the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Visit Fauna series also helped pave the way for other special-edition bullion issues from the Royal Canadian Mint, reinforcing Canada's reputation as one of the world's leading producers of silver bullion coins.

Buy and sell Faune Series silver coins at Canada Gold

Whether you're building a silver bullion portfolio, adding to a collection or looking to sell silver coins, Canada Gold can help you.

We buy and sell silver bullion products on a regular basis, including Canadian silver Maple Leaf coins and specials from the Royal Canadian Mint. Our team can also appraise silver coins, jewelry, silverware and other precious metal items at current market prices.

Visit your nearest Canada Gold branch to discover our selection of silver bullion products, or consult our real time silver prices online, updated regularly during market hours.