Canadian Beaver 3D Coin: A Double EHR Showcase for Modern Numismatics

Picture a coin that feels more like a tiny sculpture than a flat disc of metal—a beaver family building its lodge, seen both above and below the waterline, their bodies rising up from the surface in full 3D. That’s exactly what the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin delivers.

The Royal Canadian Mint’s new Canadian Symbol: The Beaver – Fine Silver Coin has generated buzz not only in Canada but among U.S. numismatists as well. Struck in 3 ounces of 99.99% pure silver with selective gold plating and an ultra-deep Double Extraordinarily High Relief (EHR) design, it’s one of the most technically ambitious wildlife coins the Mint has ever produced.

For coin collectors, industry professionals and investors, this piece is a fascinating case study: part art medal, part commemorative, part engineering flex. Let’s break down what it is, why it exists, and how it might fit into a serious collection.

TL;DR – Key Facts About the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin

Official name: Canadian Symbol: The Beaver – Fine Silver Coin (2025, $50 face value).
Composition: 99.99% pure silver, 100.74 g (3.239 oz), 50 mm diameter, proof finish, with selective yellow-gold plating on the beavers.
Relief: Double Extraordinarily High Relief (EHR)—up to 6 mm high, giving a true 3D effect on both obverse and reverse.
Theme: Above-and-below-water views of a beaver family building a lodge, tied to the 50th anniversary of the beaver’s designation (1975–2025) as an official Canadian symbol.
Mintage & price: Limited to 2,750 coins worldwide, with an issue price of CA$479.95 from the Royal Canadian Mint.

What Makes the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin Different?

The Royal Canadian Mint has a long track record of pushing technical boundaries—holograms, color, curved coins, even coins with embedded crystals. But the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin marks a new high-water mark in relief.

The coin uses Double Extraordinarily High Relief (EHR), with sculpted beavers rising up to 6 mm above the surface—higher than any prior Canadian EHR issue, according to Mint commentary.

Numismatically, that matters for a few reasons:

Visual impact – The 3D modeling and deep relief give the animals and lodge real depth, more akin to a miniature sculpture than a traditional coin.
Technical challenge – Achieving sharp detail at that height on both sides requires careful die making, higher striking pressure and more frequent die changes, all of which raise production costs.
Collectibility – “Firsts” and “extremes” in mint technology tend to be closely watched by advanced collectors, especially when paired with strong themes and low mintages.

From a market standpoint, the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin positions itself squarely in the “premium modern” segment: high-end artistry, innovative technology, and a price tag that’s well above bullion but below the stratospheric levels of ultra-low-mintage gold.

Design Details of the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin

Two Scenes, One Coin

The most striking feature of the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin is its split concept: one side shows the world above water; the other reveals what’s happening beneath the surface.

Reverse (above water): A birds-eye view of a beaver family—adult male and female plus two kits—busy building a lodge with sticks and mud.
Obverse (underwater): The same family seen from below, showing their underbellies and the submerged structure of the lodge.

Artist Maurade Baynton first modeled the design in clay to align the elements above and below the “waterline,” then worked with 3D engraver Aida Alves to translate the sculpture into engraved relief.

Alves added lily pads and water ripples to make the environment more realistic and to help the design flow around the high-relief beavers, merging artistic vision with the practical need for metal to move smoothly during striking.

Selective Gold Plating

The beavers themselves are plated with yellow gold, creating visual contrast against the mirror-like silver fields and hinting at autumn sunlight flickering across fur and water.

From a valuation perspective, the gold plating doesn’t add much intrinsic metal value, but it does enhance eye appeal, which can influence long-term desirability and grading premiums.

Mintage, Specs and Pricing: Is the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin Rare?

From a strictly numerical standpoint, the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin is scarce:

Mintage: 2,750 pieces worldwide
Metal content: 3.239 troy ounces of 99.99% pure silver
Issue price: CA$479.95 (roughly US$350–$380 depending on exchange rates at launch)

That puts it in the realm of limited-mintage, high-end silver, not mass-market bullion. Comparable Royal Canadian Mint 3-oz EHR or multilayered coins with mintages under 3,000 have had a history of relatively strong initial demand; earlier multilayered animal coins, for example, sold out quickly at the Mint.

However, rarity alone doesn’t guarantee future appreciation. Factors that will influence the coin’s long-term performance include:

How widely it’s promoted within the Mint’s broader 2025 beaver-themed lineup
Secondary-market interest from collectors of Canadian wildlife, high-relief issues, and 3D coins
Overall demand for modern, high-premium numismatic silver as economic conditions shift

For U.S. collectors and investors, the key is to see this as a numismatic art piece first, with potential upside rather than a pure bullion play.

Canadian Beaver 3D Coin and the 50th Anniversary Beaver Program

The Canadian Beaver 3D Coin doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a broader 2025 Royal Canadian Mint program marking 50 years since the beaver became an official emblem of Canada in 1975.

Other beaver-themed issues for 2025 include:

A special-edition proof silver dollar featuring a beaver surrounded by maple leaves and the dual date 1975–2025.
A multilayered 5-cent 3D beaver coin, reimagining George Kruger Gray’s classic nickel design using stacked layers of engraved silver.
Additional collector pieces and sets highlighting the animal’s role as “nature’s engineer” and symbol of Canadian sovereignty.

For series-minded numismatists, this means the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin can anchor a focused 2025 beaver set that spans denominations, technologies (EHR, multilayered engraving) and price points.

Pros and Cons of the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin for Collectors & Investors

Potential Advantages

Ultra-low mintage – 2,750 pieces places this firmly in the scarce modern-issue category.
Technical innovation – Highest relief yet attempted in a Double EHR coin, which may make it a reference piece for future design discussions.
Strong national symbolism – Tied to the 50th anniversary of the beaver as a Canadian symbol, which gives it historical context beyond “just another wildlife coin.” 1
Eye appeal & display – Comes in a “floating” capsule for vertical, front-to-back viewing, ideal for galleries or home displays.

Potential Drawbacks

High issue price relative to melt value – The intrinsic silver value is far below the CA$479.95 list price, meaning buyers are paying primarily for artistry and scarcity.
Niche audience – Not every collector focuses on modern 3D or EHR issues; liquidity may depend on future demand from that specific segment.
Storage and handling – High relief and gold plating can be more vulnerable to contact marks; the coin should remain in its original capsule and packaging to preserve value.
Market volatility for modern issues – Some premium modern coins sell for strong premiums initially and then cool off as the next hot release appears.

As with any collectible, it’s safest to purchase the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin because you appreciate the design and story, with investment upside treated as a secondary bonus.

How U.S. Collectors Can Approach the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin

For coin collectors in the U.S., the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin offers several strategic opportunities:

Theme collecting – It fits neatly into collections focused on wildlife, engineering/technology, or North American fauna.
Cross-border diversification – Adding Royal Canadian Mint pieces can broaden a U.S-centric collection and provide exposure to a different minting tradition.
Showcase piece for displays – The coin’s 3D effect and floating holder make it an excellent anchor in a cabinet or office display, sparking conversations about modern mint technology.

When buying, consider:

Source – Purchasing directly from the Royal Canadian Mint or reputable dealers helps ensure authenticity and proper packaging.
Exchange rates and shipping – Factor in currency conversion, taxes and cross-border shipping costs.
Exit strategy – If you treat it as part of your long-term estate, a high-end modern piece may be best consigned to a major Canadian or U.S. auction house when it’s time to sell.

FAQ: Canadian Beaver 3D Coin and 3D Numismatic Design

Q1. Is the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin legal tender?
Yes. It carries a $50 Canadian face value, though like most collector issues it is not intended for circulation and trades far above face.

Q2. How is “3D” different from normal coin relief?
Most circulating coins have relatively shallow relief, often under 1 mm. The Canadian Beaver 3D Coin uses Double Extraordinarily High Relief up to 6 mm, creating true sculptural depth and allowing different viewing angles—especially when combined with the vertical display capsule.

Q3. Will the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin appreciate in value?
There’s no guarantee. Its low mintage, technical novelty and strong theme give it good fundamentals, but modern commemoratives can be volatile. Treat it as a high-end collectible first; any price appreciation should be considered a bonus, not a certainty.

Q4. How does it compare to the multilayered 5-cent Beaver coin?
The 5-cent multilayered beaver coin is another 3D-style piece using stacked engravings rather than extreme relief, with an even lower mintage of 1,650 and a larger 55 mm size.
Both are technologically advanced; the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin emphasizes height, while the multilayered piece emphasizes depth and layering.

Q5. Is this coin suitable for precious-metals investors?
Pure bullion investors usually focus on coins with minimal premiums over melt, such as Maple Leafs or generic bars. Because of its high issue price, the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin fits better in a numismatic or hybrid collection than in a pure bullion stack.

Final Thoughts on the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin

The Canadian Beaver 3D Coin encapsulates where modern numismatics is headed: a fusion of national symbolism, advanced minting technology and fine-art design. It’s not merely another wildlife commemorative; it’s a carefully engineered showcase piece marking a milestone in Canada’s identity and in the Royal Canadian Mint’s technical evolution.

For U.S. numismatists, coin investors and general enthusiasts, this coin offers:

A compelling narrative—a beaver family at work, viewed above and below the waterline
A tangible link to a 50-year national symbol
A case study in how innovation and scarcity interact in today’s collectible-coin market

If the story, the design and the technology resonate with you, adding the Canadian Beaver 3D Coin to your collection could be more than just a purchase—it could be a centerpiece that explains to friends, clients or family why you love coins in the first place.