Design by Nunavik artist featured on new $5 coin

Here’s the design of Nunavik artist Ulaayu Pilurtuut, which decorates a $5 coin available June 4 from the Canadian Mint. (IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CANADIAN MINT)

KANGIQSUJUAQ — The Canadian Mint has an eye-catching new product: a special issue, five-dollar coin, which features a design, in pink and silver, by Nunavik artist Ulaayu Pilurtuut, called “Mother ice fishing.”

“Pilurtuut’s design shows a joyous mother celebrating her latest catch with her baby in her amautik. Rendered in a contemporary Inuit style, it captures the lighthearted spirit and humour commonly associated with this ancient practice,” said information about the special issue coin from the Canadian Mint.

The coin’s design was unveiled this week in Montreal. Some 6,500 of them will be available to order from the Canadian Mint as of June 4.

At May 28 at a community gathering in Kangiqsujuaq, news of Pilurtuut, coin design was celebrated.

Pilurtuut, who now works for the Kativik School Board in Kuujjuaq, originally comes from Kangiqsujuaq.

An image of her design was screened for everyone to see — “we’re so proud of you,” said Mary Pilurtuut,, the vice-chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government.

Made in 99.99 per cent silver with a diameter of 28 millimetres and a metal weight of 8.5 grams, the coin incorporates a niobium insert struck into the coin’s silver core.

The niobium, generally used in superalloys, superconducting magnets and to strengthen steel, is coloured using an oxidization process.

The ability to make unique colours directly from niobium make it an interesting metal for coins, the Canadian Mint told Nunatsiaq News.

The other side of the coin of the features an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.