2003 Medal NWRS - Canvasback Silver

Coin Details

Auction Record

$165 PR69DCAM 01-07-2021 eBay

Description

The 2003 National Wildlife Refuge System Canvasback silver medal is one of four medals produced by the U.S. Mint to commemorate the centennial of the National Wildlife Refuge System, established by President Theodore Roosevelt's Executive Order of March 14, 1903 creating Pelican Island in Florida as the first federal bird reservation. The centennial medal program honored the refuge system's century of habitat conservation through imagery featuring iconic North American wildlife species. The obverse features a canvasback duck (Aythya valisineria) in its natural habitat, rendered in the detailed naturalistic style characteristic of American wildlife medallic art. The canvasback is North America's largest diving duck and was historically regarded as the finest-tasting waterfowl on the continent, making it both a conservation success story and a beloved quarry for hunters. Its selection for the medal program reflects the dual-use philosophy that has guided the refuge system since its founding — protecting wildlife habitat while providing public access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. The reverse carries the National Wildlife Refuge System centennial emblem and inscriptions marking the hundredth anniversary, with the motto "Where Wildlife Comes First" expressing the system's conservation priority. Struck in silver at the standard 38.1mm medal diameter, this Canvasback medal was part of a set that also included an elk and two other designs. The National Wildlife Refuge System had grown from Roosevelt's single three-acre Pelican Island reservation to encompass more than 540 refuges totaling over 95 million acres by its centennial — the largest network of lands and waters specifically dedicated to wildlife conservation in the world.

Rarity Notes

U.S. Mint issue in silver, 38.1mm. Part of a four-medal centennial set. Produced in limited quantities for the 2003 anniversary. Available through the U.S. Mint and authorized dealers.

Cross References

PCGS #20517; NGC #510809; National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial 1903-2003; Executive Order March 14, 1903