Back to Articles

The End of an Era: The Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II endures on our coins

  • Sep 06, 2023
  • Canadiana
  • 5 minute read

On September 8, 2022, the Mint joined our fellow Canadians, citizens of the Commonwealth, and others around the world in mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II.

Over the course of a reign that has spanned more than seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II played an integral role in the life of our nation. Canadians enjoyed a close and enduring relationship with Queen Elizabeth II, exemplified by numerous visits, her ties to our fundamental institutions and remaining current with the progress of Canada as a diverse, modern nation.

This year, we revisited seven decades of history through a collection of commemorative coins, designed to honour the extraordinary life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Every numismatic coin in the Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign collection comes in special commemorative packaging and features a special obverse design. The tribute obverse, displaying a double-date and the effigies of Queen Elizabeth II that have appeared on Canadian coins, is exclusive to this collection.

Many of her personal and official milestones have been commemorated on our coins, often featuring her likeness on both sides, since her portrait, or effigy, has graced their obverse, or heads side throughout her reign. Always facing right on the obverse, each of her portraits capture different eras of her reign, and there is plenty of history behind each one.

Four different images of Queen Elizabeth II have graced the obverse of all Canadian circulation coins since 1953.

image
image

On September 8, 2022, the Mint joined our fellow Canadians, citizens of the Commonwealth, and others around the world in mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II.

Over the course of a reign that has spanned more than seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II played an integral role in the life of our nation. Canadians enjoyed a close and enduring relationship with Queen Elizabeth II, exemplified by numerous visits, her ties to our fundamental institutions and remaining current with the progress of Canada as a diverse, modern nation.

This year, we revisited seven decades of history through a collection of commemorative coins, designed to honour the extraordinary life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Every numismatic coin in the Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign collection comes in special commemorative packaging and features a special obverse design. The tribute obverse, displaying a double-date and the effigies of Queen Elizabeth II that have appeared on Canadian coins, is exclusive to this collection.

Many of her personal and official milestones have been commemorated on our coins, often featuring her likeness on both sides, since her portrait, or effigy, has graced their obverse, or heads side throughout her reign. Always facing right on the obverse, each of her portraits capture different eras of her reign, and there is plenty of history behind each one.

Four different images of Queen Elizabeth II have graced the obverse of all Canadian circulation coins since 1953.

The laureate effigy by Mary Gillick The laureate effigy by Mary Gillick
The tiara effigy by Arnold Machin The tiara effigy by Arnold Machin
The diademed effigy by Dora de Pédery-Hunt The diademed effigy by Dora de Pédery-Hunt
image