A Barrie photographer who pushes the boundaries of macrophotography has inspired the Royal Canadian Mint to push the boundaries of creating currency.
Don Komarechka, who has published a book on snowflakes (Sky Crystals) and who is also working on a new series on macrophotography, helped design a new coin that features one of his images – a six-sided dendrite ice crystal.
“This coin uses a very special enamel that is a first for the Royal Canadian Mint. It shimmers and sparkles as you look at it from different angles, just like a snowflake,” said Komarechka.
“Not many photographers have their work used to inspire such designs and I have great respect for the engravers and craftsmen that worked to turn my snowflake design into a beautiful coin.”
Only 6,000 of the coins, which are silver and enhanced with blue glitter enamel, will be made.
With a face value of $20, the coin costs $113.95 and is exempt from HST.
More information about the coin and how to order one, which comes in a Canadian Mint-branded clamshell box and with a serialized certificate, is available on mint.ca.
