The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled a new $1 commemorative circulation coin in honor of L. M. Montgomery, one of Canada’s most cherished and widely read authors.
The non-coloured version of the new $1 circulating coin.
Unveiled June 26 at Green Gables Heritage Place in Prince Edward Island, the coin celebrates the 150th anniversary of Montgomery’s birth and her enduring legacy through the beloved Anne of Green Gables series and other memorable works.
The mint stated the new coin, which enters general circulation on June 27, recognizes Montgomery’s literary genius, her lasting impact on Canadian and global literature, and her significant role in popularizing P.E.I. and Canada.
The artwork for the coin, created by P.E.I. artist Brenda Jones, features a profile portrait of L. M. Montgomery (1874-1942) from the time Anne of Green Gables was written, along with her signature and a cat drawing she often included when signing her name. The mint said the coin’s “captures Montgomery’s imaginative spirit, transitioning from an image of the author writing (represented by a portfolio and inkwell) to Anne Shirley gazing out at P.E.I. farmland – the real-life inspiration for many of Montgomery’s stories.” The obverse features the effigy of King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.
“The Anne of Green Gables novels are iconic works of Canadian literature, captivating millions of readers in Canada and around the world,” said Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and minister of finance. “This new coin pays tribute to L. M. Montgomery and her literary masterpieces, ensuring Anne’s story remains close to our hearts for generations to come.”
Marie Lemay, the Mint’s president and CEO, expressed pride in this tribute: “The life and legacy of L. M. Montgomery is a story deserving of the first circulation coin celebrating an author. With her iconic tales of Anne Shirley still being translated into numerous languages and adapted for stage and screen, we are honored to commemorate Montgomery’s story on a coin that will be shared and cherished for generations.”
Montgomery’s granddaughter, Kate Macdonald Butler, shared her admiration: “I greatly admire my grandmother for her contributions to Canadian literature and culture, her strength of character, and the love, pride, and sense of responsibility she instilled in my family. To see her commemorated on millions of circulation coins is an unimaginable honor. I hope Canadians cherish it as much as I do, not only for the stories she told but for the woman she was.”
Montgomery, born in Clifton, P.E.I. in 1874, authored hundreds of short stories and poems, along with 20 novels, including the famous Anne of Green Gables series. She later settled in Toronto, where she died in 1942. Montgomery was laid to rest in P.E.I.’s Cavendish Cemetery – a final return to the island she loved.
Limited to a mintage of three million coins, including two million colored ones, the new $1 circulation will be available as bank branches and businesses replenish their coin inventories. The is also releasing special collectible rolls of the $1 coin in colour and non-colour. and a collectible fine silver coin.
Pictures of the unveiling below (courtesy of the RCM):
(From left to right) Anne Shirley, Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Marie Lemay, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, Kate Mcdonald Butler, Dr. Kate Scarth Ph. D., and author Carley Fortune unveil the $1 commemorative circulation coin honouring famed author L. M. Montgomery at Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, PEI on June 26, 2024. (Below) PEI Finance Minister Jill Burridge, artist Brenda Jones, MP Sean Casey, MP Heath MacDonald, Parks Canada CEO Ron Hollman and Mint Board member Kevin Darling.
Anne of Green Gables and the circulation coin commemorating author L. M. Montgomery (Cavendish, PEI).