Description
A FIRST! An egg-shaped coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint!
With its handcrafted beauty and intricate patterns, a pysanka is one of the most beloved forms of traditional Ukrainian folk art! This carefully decorated Easter egg is a veritable treasure trove of symbolism, where each motif and color carries a deeper meaning that bestows a special blessing upon its recipient. The creative process itself is a time-honored ritual, a tradition that predates Christianity and has been lovingly passed down from one generation to another. The pysanka egg, in all of its colorful splendor, remains an artistic celebration of life and rebirth, a blessed token of esteem, and a powerful protective emblem—for it is said that as long as pysanky are made, good will continue to prevail over evil.
A deeply meaningful and visually stunning gift to celebrate Easter or any special occasion! Order today before they are all gone!
RECREATES HANDCRAFTED ARTISTRY! Vibrant color throughout the elaborate design recreates the breathtaking handcrafted artistry of a Ukrainian Easter egg.
A cultural celebration of a beloved Ukrainian tradition on the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada.
The coin’s shape is itself powerfully symbolic as many cultures consider the egg to represent life and rebirth, which is often associated with spring.
99.99% PURE SILVER! Your coin is crafted from 99.99% pure silver!
Designed by Canadian artist Ann Morash, your coin captures the intricate beauty of a pysanka. Every element on this Ukrainian Easter egg is rich with symbolic meaning, including the individual colors: yellow stands for youth and purity; red represents the joy and passion in life; green is the color of spring, which brings hope and renewal; and black suggests the darkest time before dawn, and the idea of eternity.
When combined, these colors—and the motifs they enhance—result in a design that is open to many interpretations, but that is nonetheless a vibrant celebration of a full and colorful life. At the top and bottom of the egg are large flowers, which symbolize love, goodwill and the beauty of nature; these are framed by bands of waves that speak of water’s life-giving properties, and the idea of eternity. Beneath the waves at the top are stylized depictions of the sun and stars, which symbolize life, fortune and growth; a re-interpretation of these also appear in the center, where they alternate with evergreen boughs that represent eternal health and youth.
Did you know…
More than 3 million Canadians (or 10% of Canada’s population) are of Ukrainian heritage; in fact, Ukrainian is the fifth most spoken language in Canada!
Since it is created using a written-wax batik method, it seems fitting that pysanka comes from the verb pysaty, meaning “to write”; note that pysanka is singular, and the plural is pysanky.
There are several different types of decorated eggs, but most are for ornamental or symbolic purposes; however, the single-colored hard-boiled eggs known as krashanky are eaten at Easter breakfast.
While there are thousands of possible motifs, designs frequently feature geometric and plant themes; it is said that the recipient of an egg decorated with animals, which are more difficult to draw, will be endowed with the animal’s best characteristics.
Meander lines and eternity bands are some of the oldest and most common motifs—with no beginning or end, they symbolize harmony, immortality and infinity.
As a ritualistic process, it was important to maintain a calm, positive and focused state of mind while creating a pysanka. Melted beeswax is “written” on the raw egg with a stylus called a kistka; after the first lines are drawn, the egg is immersed in a colored dye. The wax is then applied to other sections of the design, effectively masking them as the process is repeated to cover the desired range of colors from light to dark. Once the process is complete, the wax is melted and removed to reveal a wealth of patterns and colors, all meticulously achieved through this multi-layered process.
Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded maroon clamshell with a black beauty box.
• Mintage – 4000
• Composition – 99.99% pure silver
• Finish – proof
• Weight (g) – 31.39
• Diameter (mm) 45 long x 33 wide
• Edge interrupted serrations
• Certificate – serialized
• Face value – 20 dollars
• Artist Ann C. Morash (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.