2023 ICE AGE SERIES – 2 oz .9999 Fine Silver Smilodon Sabre-Tooth Cat BU

It’s the most famous prehistoric Ice Age predator, and if you were a young mammoth or mastodon, the last thing you’d want to see is Smilodon
fatalis suddenly lunging at you and flashing its oversized fangs!
“Smilodon” means “scalpel tooth,” a fitting descriptor for an ancient big cat whose deadly canines measured up to 18 centimetres long. A key top
predator, the sabre-toothed cat would have stalked large herbivores—horses, camels, giant ground sloths and more—by hiding and pouncing on
them, much like today’s big cats.
Despite being synonymous with the Ice Age, you won’t find Smilodon perched atop a glacier—this prehistoric big cat preferred warmer climes. Its
fossils are among the most common ones found in the tar pit deposits of California, but its range extended across ice-free areas of North, Central
and South America. In 2019, a 35,000-to-40,000-year-old bone became the first verified evidence of Smilodon fatalis’ existence in the prehistoric
plains of southern Alberta, before becoming extinct at the end of the Pleistocene epoch, around 11,700 years ago.
The obverse features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt. The obverse also bears a special marking that includes four pearls
symbolizing the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins and the double date of her reign.

FEATURES
Contains 2 oz of .9999 fine Silver.
Coin comes in protective packaging. Multiples of 14 come in plastic mint tubes. Multiples of 280 come in Monster Boxes.
Obverse: The effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.
Reverse: Features an absolutely stunning rendition of a leaping sabertooth with all claws out.
Guaranteed by the Royal Canadian Mint.
Composition: 99.99% pure silver
Weight*: 2 oz. (62.67 g)
Diameter: 38 mm
Face Value: 10 dollars (CAN)
Finish: Bullion with Radial Lines
Edge: Serrated
Packaging: Tubes
Box Quantity: 280
Smilodon, also known as the saber-toothed cat, is a species of extinct carnivorous mammals that lived approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. They were part of the Felidae family and were widely distributed throughout North and South America.

Smilodon had long, sharp, saber-like upper canines that were up to 7 inches in length, which made them highly adapted for hunting and capturing prey. These canines were the longest of any known felid and were used to pierce the skin and throats of their prey. Smilodon had a muscular body and a powerful jaw, making them one of the most formidable predators of the Pleistocene era.

There were several species of Smilodon, including Smilodon populator, Smilodon fatalis, and Smilodon gracilis. The exact cause of their extinction is not known, but some theories suggest changes in climate and the disappearance of their prey may have contributed to their decline.

Smilodon is a popular and well-known species, and its fossils are widely sought after by paleontologists, collectors, and museums. The discovery of Smilodon skeletons and fossils has provided valuable information about the evolution and ecology of large carnivores during the Pleistocene era.

Artist: Julius Csotonyi
➢ Includes two cutting-edge security features: precise radial lines and a
micro-engraved lasered maple leaf with the numeral “23” (visible
under magnification) to denote the coin’s year of issue.
➢ Masterfully crafted by Royal Canadian Mint engravers using a variety
of engraving techniques and finishes, which bring depth and texture
to this unforgettable portrait of the fearsome Ice Age carnivore.
➢ An attractive acquisition for both first-time precious metal buyers
and long-term investo