One of the loveliest, largest, and most widespread dragonfly species in Canada is Anax junius, commonly known as the Green Darner. Both males and females range in length between 70 and 80 millimetres and have a wingspan of 100 to 120 millimetres. The Green Darner's common name is rooted in its bright green body and long blue abdominal region marked with a black line along its entire length that looks much like a darning needle. The Green Darner has large green or brown eyes that join at the top of its head, extending the dragonfly's scope of vision to nearly 360 degrees. The area just in front of the conjoined eyes bears a distinctive dark "bull's-eye" marking.

Green darners are one of the few dragonfly species in North America known to be migratory. They travel south from many regions of Canada between late August and November, returning the following year between March and June to lay their eggs.

Like all dragonflies, green darners are amazing aerial hunters that can fly at incredible speeds. They use this speed and their unusual eyesight to catch prey on the wing. Their prey includes black flies, deer flies, mosquitoes, moths, butterflies, bees, and other insects. They are also entirely carnivorous in their nymph phase, feeding on aquatic insects, tadpoles, and fish eggs.

The second in the Royal Canadian Mint's exciting new "Dragonfly" series featuring painted Canadian dragonfly species set against hologram images of their natural habitat!

By holding the hologram at a 45 degree angle under the light, the dragonfly's habitat comes to life in dimensional detail —from the vegetation along the water's edge to the lily pads floating on the water's shimmering, reflective surface.

Designed by Canadian artist Celia Godkin your coin features a painted Anax junius set against a three-dimensional hologram. Rendered in finest detail, the dragonfly is presented from its right side. Its delicately veined transparent wings are fully extended as the green darner flies sprightly across a vegetation-lined pond. This presentation of the darner shows the viewer the large dragonfly's vast wingspan, beautiful emerald-green thorax, large green eyes, and characteristic head-top bulls-eye marking as well as its long blue "darning needle" abdomen. Its preferred summer breeding habitat is uniquely depicted in the hologram background; by capturing colour from light, this holographic image offers added dimensionality and movement to the reverse image. Tall vegetation lines the water's edge in the top portion of the background while below, nearby trees are reflected on the pond's mirror-like surface. In the centre, lily pads float on the shimmering water's surface — a welcome respite for the dragonfly on a warm summer day.