The Royal Canadian Mint just issued these two beautiful 2008 silver proof $20 snowflake coins: the sapphire and amethyst snowflake coins, featuring CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements overlaying the intricate design. In 2007, the RCM had issued an iridescent and a blue snowflake $20 coin that proved to be very popular.
These wintry beauties are scientifically referred to as six-sided dendritic ice crystals. As water vapor freezes within a cloud, temperature, wind and humidity will influence the size and shape of the ice crystals that fall to the ground. Sometimes they will clump together to form large, wet flakes. Or, they'll fall as dry, powdery snow. But if the conditions are just right and the ice crystals can grow large and drift gently earthward without clumping together, the result is a flurry of endless masterpieces—those elaborate star-shaped flakes. They may appear to have endless shapes and forms, but they all maintain their hallmark hexagonal shape; and none of their branches are ever exactly the same.
These snowflakes are so intricate, they have the focus of much admiration and study. With so much of its activity dependent upon and shaped by winter's frozen marvels, Canada has become known internationally for its scientific contributions to snow and ice research. The world's most accurate gauge for recording snowfall and automated sensors that measure snow accumulation and melt on major glaciers and ice sheets are found in Canada.
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