Daspletosaurus Featured on Canadian Coin

Last week the Canadian Museum of Nature celebrated its 100th anniversary, and the Royal Canadian Mint has issued a new dinosaur coin to honor the venerable institution. The commemorative 50-cent coin features the tyrannosaur Daspletosaurus, which rushes the viewer when the coin is turned, and it is one of three dinosaur-themed coins to be released by the Royal Canadian Mint this year (the others will be emblazoned with similar images of the tyrannosaur Albertosaurus and the feathered dinosaur Sinosauropteryx). As with all commemorative coins, though, you will have to spend a pretty penny if you want one—each 50-cent coin costs $24.95 (Canadian), and so might be of interest only to the most die-hard dino fans.

Riley Black | | READ MORE

Riley Black is the author of The Last Days of the Dinosaurs and many other books. She is a science correspondent for Smithsonian magazine covering fossils and natural history, and she writes about the prehistoric past for a variety of publications.