When you think Canada, from now on you can think of dinosaurs. Glow in the dark dinosaurs! The image of a dinosaur whose remains were discovered in Alberta’s Peace Country will be featured on Canada’s newest quarter — the first Canadian coin with a glow-in-the dark picture.
The quarter, being released by the Royal Canadian Mint April 16, features Pachyrhinosaurus Lakustai, a large herbivore whose bone fragments were discovered by Grande Prairie, Alta., science teacher Al Lakusta in 1974. The bones that Lakusta discovered led paleontologists to what has since been determined to be the richest horned dinosaur bed in the world. The Pachyrhinosaurus Lakustai dinosaur was up to 26 feet long and weighed as much as four tons. Its massive head bore a large frill of bone and small horns.
As if a dinosaur quarter wasn’t unique enough on its own, Canada has found a way to make the image turn into a glow in the dark skeleton when you shut out the lights. It uses a photo-luminescent which won’t, unlike most glow in the dark gadgets, ever wear out.
The Royal Canadian Mint will release the quarter on April 16 and according to the Vancouver Sun they’ll sell it at Canada Post outlets for $29.95. Three more dinosaur coins will follow, in a series called Prehistoric Creatures.