Pièce 5 onces d'argent Règne de la reine Élisabeth II 2022 | Monnaie royale canadienne

The effigies of Queen Elizabeth II: A 5 oz. retrospective of RCM's most minted monarch

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in Canada’s modern history, and RCM's most minted one. Always facing right, her portraits have been a fixture on the obverse of Canadian coins since 1953, and each one captured a different era of her reign. All four appear on the obverse and reverse of this 5 oz. 99.99% pure silver coin, which presents an elegant retrospective of the Canadian coin effigies of “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

PORTRAITS OF CHANGE: THE EFFIGIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

It was the youthful laureate effigy by Mary Gillick that graced our pocket change in the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, in a time when Canada’s peacekeeping reputation was first forged.

The second portrait, the tiara effigy by Arnold Machin, is the one that graced RCM coins when they adopted the maple leaf flag (1965); celebrated Canada’s centennial (1967); and when Canada welcomed Olympic athletes to Montreal (1976).

The stately diademed effigy by Dora de Pédery-Hunt—the first by a Canadian artist—reflected a refined sovereign, one who had grown and matured alongside Canada, even as the national map was redrawn to include Nunavut in 1999.

The uncrowned effigy by Susanna Blunt is ultimately the final portrait. It is a more modern representation of a monarch who, in her own words, had been “a witness to this country for more than half its history since Confederation,” and whose commitment to service and to Canada never wavered.

A historical record of a monumental reign, these engraved portraits span decades of changes—for Canada and for Queen Elizabeth II. Long did she reign.

Four historic effigies on both sides of this 5 oz. tribute.

COIN HIGHLIGHTS

• 5 oz. silver. Crafted in 5 oz. of 99.99% pure silver with a magnificent proof finish, this tribute coin is one of two 5 oz. coins—the largest (65.25 mm) pieces—in the Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign collection.
• A royal retrospective. The legacy of Queen Elizabeth II endures on Canada’s coins, which have featured various effigies throughout her reign. All four effigies are featured on this coin’s obverse and reverse—both sides.
• A nation remembers. Every numismatic coin in the Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign collection comes packaged with a special graphic beauty box.
• Low mintage. Only 2,250 coins are available to collectors worldwide.

PACKAGING

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a special commemorative graphic beauty box.

ENTWINED EMBLEMS

The ornamental flourish on your coin’s reverse combines acanthus leaves with emblems of Canada (the maple leaf) and the United Kingdom (Tudor rose, thistle, shamrock and daffodil) to form a floral representation of the historic ties and traditions that bind us.

TRIBUTE OBVERSE

Marked by a small Tudor rose, the tribute obverse combines the four effigies that have graced Canadian coins since Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. This obverse is only featured on the numismatic coins in the Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign collection.

The reverse design features the Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by the effigies that have appeared on Canadian coins during her reign (clockwise from the right): the 2003-2022 effigy Susanna Blunt; the 1990-2002 effigy by Dora de Pédery-Hunt; the 1965-1989 effigy by Arnold Machin; and the 1953-1964 effigy by Mary Gillick. Behind the effigies are symbols representing Canada (the maple leaf) and the United Kingdom (the shamrock for Ireland, the thistle for Scotland, the Tudor rose for England and the daffodil for Wales), entwined with acanthus leaves.

Double dated to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s historic reign, the tribute obverse is marked by a Tudor rose and features the same four effigies that grace the coin’s reverse.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN MINT

The Royal Canadian Mint is known as one of the most reputable mints in the world. The Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint opened in 1908 and was renamed The Royal Canadian Mint in 1931 when control was transferred to the Canadian government. The Royal Canadian Mint is renowned for producing some of the highest quality and purity of gold and silver bullion coins and bars in the world. Their high standards for excellence and quality allowed them to be the first refinery to manufacture 9999 fine gold bullion coins in 1982, as well as the first to reach 99999 fine gold purity in 1998.