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Imagine the thrill of unearthing the teeth of a prehistoric creature - a monstrous, dragon-like beast, the likes of which the world had never before seen! This was the scene near Golden, Colorado in 1874, when the first tyrannosaur teeth, nearly a foot long, were discovered by a prospector named A. Lakes. T. rex would turn out to possess the largest teeth of all the carnivorous dinosaurs.

These teeth are one of the reasons that the famous species Tyrannosaurus rex (commonly abbreviated to T. rex; tyrannosaurus means "tyrant lizard" and rex means "king" in Latin) has become a fixture in popular culture around the world. It lived throughout what is now western North America, with a much wider range than other tyrannosaurids. Fossils of T. rex are found in a variety of rock formations dating to the last three million years of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 68 to 65 million years ago. It was among the last non-avian dinosaurs to exist prior to the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction event, and as such can be viewed as the culmination of carnivorous dinosaur evolution.

Tyrannosaurus rex was not a small beast. The mighty tyrant lizard could measure over 42 feet (13 meters) from head to tail, and might have weighed well over 7 tons. It had a gaping three foot (one meter) bite with the aforementioned huge teeth that could rip off hundreds of pounds of flesh at a time.

These horrific meat-eaters lived in the Late Cretaceous Period, at the very end of the age of dinosaurs, from about 68 million to 65 million years ago. Like all other dinosaurs, they went extinct about 65.5 million years ago in the great Cretaceous-Tertiary (or K-T) extinction event, in which an asteroid up to several miles in diameter collided with Earth near the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, releasing as much energy as the detonation of several million atomic bombs and creating a nuclear winter scenario.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaur Fossil $4 Silver Proof is the latest entry in the new and extremely popular Dinosaur Fossils of Canada series. The series is anticipated to continue for four years as follows:
    2007 - Duck-Billed Parasaurolophus
    2008 - Triceratops
    2009 - Tyrannosaurus Rex
    2010 - Dromaeosaurus

Click here for coins and medals featuring dinosaurs, including the others in this program!

The new Dinosaur Fossil $4 Silver Proofs feature not one, but two, firsts for a Canadian coin series! They are the first Canadian coins with a $4 denomination (face value), and are also the first to feature the Royal Canadian Mint's new oxidized fossil technology (more on this below). Both these firsts, and the incredibly popular theme (dinosaurs), are all important considerations.

Consider too that the dinosaur fossils series is minted in the purest silver (.9999 fine) used anywhere for numismatic purposes. Also important is the mintage limit, which is low for any Canadian pure silver proof, much less one featuring a brand-new applied technology. Perhaps most importantly, these are all very affordable silver proofs, making them a great value. The dinosaur coins seem destined to sell out quickly, so get yours today - these will truly remain among your favorites for years to come!

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Oxidized Fossil Technology Note
The Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaur Fossil $4 Silver Proof features a new and patented technology from the Royal Canadian Mint, a special finish selectively applied to the dinosaur fossil image. The RCM leads the world with its proprietary technologies, in which the finish is actually sealed on the coin. The unique patination gives the fossil skeleton an aged appearance. Variations in tone and color are a direct and intentional result of this process, so no two coins will look exactly alike!

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A depiction of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossilized skeleton, posed lunging forward to bite its prey, accentuates the immense jaws of this formidable carnivore. This design has been approved by the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, and is highlighted in an unique patina by the Royal Canadian Mint's proprietary oxidized fossil technology. The date of issue and denomination are both indicated.

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, in profile facing right. This portrait, the fourth effigy of the queen to appear on Canadian Coinage, was executed by the artist Susanna Blunt. The legend ELIZABETH II D. G. REGINA ("Elizabeth II, Queen by the Grace of God") also appears.