Centennial Coin, Alex Colville, 25 cents, 1967

On the twenty-five cent coin, Colville perfectly captures the bobcat’s characteristic pointed ears and stubby tail. The ambling feline possesses the same silhouette as one of the two preliminary sketches included in this exhibition, but its body is rendered with greater naturalism and detail. The animal’s fur, for instance, is particularly noticeable on its belly and chin. Colville explained, “The wildcat (bobcat) seemed appropriate for this coin, which is large enough for the subtle shape of this common, though rarely seen, animal. It is expressive of a certain intelligent independence and a capacity for formidable action.”