{"product_id":"2026-state-bear-cub-medallion","title":"2026 State Bear Cub Medallion","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2026 Official State of Alaska Bear Cub Medallion\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s6\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eAlaska Mint proudly presents the 2026 Official State of Alaska Medallion, the Bear Cub\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003e. This\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003emedallion\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003ewas designed by Riana Sather,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003ea local artist that also works as a conductor on the Alaska Railroad. She is inspired each day by being surrounded by the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eRiana picked up a pencil for the first time when she was 13 years old. During covid she was given the opportunity to pursue art as a career and spends her time split between drawing and conducting at the Alaska Railroad.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s5\"\u003eShe also loves riding motorcycles in her off time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s9\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eBlack bears (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s8\"\u003eUrsus americanus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e) are the most abundant of the three species of North American bears. An estimated 100,000 black bears inhabit Alaska.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eThe black bear is the smallest of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eAlaskan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebears.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eThey are about\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e29\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003etall\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eand 60\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e” long\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e. Males are larger than females, and weigh about 180-200 pou\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003ends.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"s10\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eThey\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003evary in color from jet black to white. Black is the color encountered most frequently\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003ein Alaska\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003ebut brown or cinnamon-colored black bears are sometimes seen in Southcentral\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e, S\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eoutheastern\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eAlaska’s Interior. The very rare white blackbear is also known as a Spirit Bear, and a Glacier Bear has silver-blue or grey hair. \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eBlack bears\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003ehave a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estraight facial profile\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eT\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eheir claws\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003egrow more than 1 ½ inches in length.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eThey\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003ehave\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003eadequate sight and hearing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e, but\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s7\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eoutstanding sense of smell.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese medallions are minted in several sizes, starting smaller than a dime up to our large two inch “Alaska Size” medallions in both pure silver and pure gold. Many are available as jewelry. Our most popular size is our 1 oz .999 fine silver, 1 oz. single gold relief (24k plating on the front of the silver coin) and 1 oz. double gold relief (24k gold plating on both sides). It is similar in size to a silver dollar. They are packaged in a handsome gift box and airtite container. Proof sets are also available, these proof sets contain the 5 different size medallions between 1\/10th up to 1oz. packaged in airtite containers and a gift box. We even mint a 2 oz. “Alaska Size” version of this medallion that is a full 2 inches in diameter, in both silver and double gold relief.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Official State of Alaska Medallions are the only medallions that we mint that feature the Seal of the State of Alaska on the reverse!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alaska Mint","offers":[{"title":"1 oz. Single Side Gold Relief","offer_id":46764208652463,"sku":"1001GR-26","price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0405\/5914\/9222\/files\/AlaskaMint_2026StateBearCub_gold_1001GR-26_041326.jpg?v=1776111053","url":"https:\/\/www.foreststidesandtreasures.com\/products\/2026-state-bear-cub-medallion","provider":"Forests, Tides, and Treasures","version":"1.0","type":"link"}