On November 14, the Canadian Mint unveiled the first Canadian dollar coin featuring a portrait of England’s King Charles at its Winnipeg manufacturing facility.
Canadian Mint president and CEO Marie Lemeier said she looked forward to sending the new coins to King Charles, calling it “the beginning of a new chapter in Canada’s history.”
Portrait artist Stephen Rosati designed the new coin. He was selected from works by approximately 350 artists. He has previously designed coins for the National Hockey League and commemorative coins for the Toronto Maple Leaves.
For 70 years since 1953, Canadian coins have featured a portrait of King Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth. Earlier this year, the federal government ordered the Mint and Bank of Canada to redesign all coins and the $20 banknote in response to the Queen’s death in 2022.
The new coins will now be sent to Buckingham Palace for approval. Coins with the king’s portrait inscribed with 2023 will go into circulation in early December.
Plans are already underway for a $20 note, but the Bank of Canada has announced that it will still be several years before it is released.