How Canada’s Coins Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III

To mark the Coronation, and in recognition of His Majesty’s longstanding commitment to environmental protection and conservation, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that the Government of Canada will donate $100,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). The NCC is Canada’s leading land conservation organization and works to protect our lands and fresh waters across the country, and often works in close partnership with Indigenous Peoples toward these shared priorities.

Charles III. and Queen Consort Camilla during the Coronation Procession in the Gold State Coach. Image: Katie Chan via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.

At the Coronation celebratory event in Ottawa the Government of Canada unveiled a new Royal Crown, Royal Flag, Canadian stamp, and collector coins in honour of His Majesty’s Coronation.

• The new Canadian Royal Crown incorporates uniquely Canadian elements, including stylized maple leaves and a wavy blue line representing the country’s lands and waterways. The design also includes a nod to Indigenous teachings about the importance and connection to water and to the land. The Crown was created by the Canadian Heraldic Authority as a symbol of the Canadian monarchy and was approved by His Majesty the King.
• The new flag of the Sovereign was also recently approved by King Charles III. It is a rectangular representation of the shield of the coat of arms of Canada, featuring maple leaves and royal emblems of the United Kingdom and France. The flag emphasizes that the Royal Arms of Canada are also the arms of the monarch of Canada and will serve for all future sovereigns. The flag was created by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
• The first definitive stamp issued in Canada honouring King Charles III will be revealed by Canada Post, continuing the tradition of issuing stamps featuring Canadian monarchs that spans 170 years. The new stamp features a portrait of the then Prince of Wales, taken by photographer Alan Shawcross.
• Special collector coins have been released from the Royal Canadian Mint in celebration of His Majesty’s Coronation, which features His Majesty’s Royal Cypher as the symbol to commemorate this historic moment.

The government has also tasked the Royal Canadian Mint to design and place an effigy of His Majesty King Charles III on Canadian circulation coins. An effigy of the reigning monarch has appeared on Canadian coins since the Mint started production in 1908.

The government confirmed with the Bank of Canada that the late Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on the $20 bank note will be replaced by that of His Majesty King Charles III during the next design process. The reigning monarch has appeared on Canadian bank notes since the Bank of Canada began production in 1935.

The Commonwealth is now headed by His Majesty King Charles III. Member countries will continue to work together to advance shared values of democracy, peace, and prosperity. They collaborate to make life better for people and advocate for the representation of small and vulnerable nations on the global stage. The Commonwealth has made strides in promoting democratic governance, environmental protection, education, and sustainable development.

While in London, Prime Minister Trudeau met with several other leaders – including the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chris Hipkins, and the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo – before returning to Ottawa on Sunday, May 7, 2023.