2006 - 50 cent sterling silver butterfly collection short-tailed swallowtail

As its name suggests, the tails on this butterfly are shorter than other Swallowtails. And its wings are stubbier. It has a hint of orange in the rows of yellow dots that run along the edge of its black, rounded wings and a reddish-orange eye spot on the hindwing.

There are three subspecies of Short-tailed Swallowtail. Papilio brevicauda brevicauda has the most orange and can be found in Newfoundland and Anticosti Island while Quebec's P. gaspeensis has the least amount of orange. The third subspecies, P. 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 the tree line in the mountainous areas of this Atlantic region. It flies from mid-June to the end of July Product

specifications:
- Face Value: 50 cents
- Mintage: 20,000
- Composition: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
- Weight (g): 9.30
- Diameter (mm): 27.13
- Edge: Serrated
- Finish: Proof
- Certificate: Serialized
- Artist: Susan Taylor