The bright and colourful wing patterns of butterflies are a marvel. And every summer, people around the world are witness to a fluttering art show as these natural works of art take flight. Antartica is the only continent without butterflies.

Of the 24,000 species in the world, Canada is home to 297 of them, including the Shorttailed Swallowtail. This particular Swallowtail is unique to the Maritime Provinces, Labrador and areas around the Gulf of St. Lawrence to St. Fulgence (Quebec).

As its name suggests, the tails on this butterfly are shorter than those of related species. Also, there is often a hint of orange in the rows of yellow dots that run along the edge of its back, rounded wings and the hindwing has a reddish-orange eye spot with a black dot in the centre.

There are three subspecies of Short-tailed Swallowtail and they have varying degrees of orange colouring. Papilio brevicauda has the most orange and can be found in Newfoundland and Anticosti Island whereas Quebec's P. brevicauda gaspeensis has the least amount of orange. The third subspecies, P. brevicauda bretonensis, lives on Cape Breton Island (Nova Scotia) and the northern shore of New Brunswick.

Like all butterflies, the Short-tailed Swallowtail loves gardens, but it can also be seen flying over cliffs and rocky beaches by the sea, and above treeline in the mountainous regions of the Maritimes. It flies from mid-June to the end of July.

The Coin

This sterling silver 50-cent coin contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. It has a weight of 9.30 grams and a diameter of 27.13 millimetres. Designed by Royal Canadian Mint engraver Susan Taylor, this coin depicts a Short-Tailed Swallowtail resting on a Scotch Lovage flower. The obverse features the portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 by Susanna Blunt.

Mint, in a presentation display case.

$44.95 CDN

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