The Royal Canadian Mint and Britain’s Royal Mint have teamed up to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 95th birthday with a special Fine silver coin set.
The set contains two one-ounce Fine silver coins – one from Canada and another from the United Kingdom – both finished to a proof standard in celebration of the Queen’s sovereignty over Canada and the United Kingdom. The set is not part of the Royal Canadian Mint’s April numismatic catalogue, which was also issued today.
Canada’s tribute to the shared sovereign’s personal milestone features a detailed engraving of the first equine statue of Queen Elizabeth II, sculpted by Vancouver’s Jack Harman and displayed in Ottawa since 1992. The British coin features a floral design on the reverse while the obverse bears the Queen’s fifth U.K. definitive coinage portrait. The set will be available from both mints’ websites beginning today at 2 p.m.
The Canadian coin features Jack Harman’s sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II’s first equine statue on the reverse (shown).
“The Mint has a time-honoured tradition of commemorating milestones in the historic reign of Queen Elizabeth II and we are proud to mark her 95th birthday through a unique collector keepsake,” said Canadian Mintmaster Marie Lemay, who began her five-year term at the helm of the RCM in January 2019. “We are especially pleased to have been able to collaborate with the Royal Mint on this special project.”
Canada’s contribution to the set, dubbed “A Royal Celebration,” features the Queen astride her horse Centenial, a gift in commemoration of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police centennial in 1973. The coin’s obverse is a numismatic history showcase featuring engravings of all four effigies of Queen Elizabeth II appearing on Canadian coins throughout her reign.
The Queen’s birthday will take place on April 21.
| CANADA – $20 Fine silver coin, “The Queen Elizabeth II Equestrian Monument” |
U.K. – £2 one-ounce silver proof coin, “The 95th Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen” |
|
| Denomination | $20 (Cdn.) | £2 |
| Issuing authority | Canada | United Kingdom |
| Alloy | 99.99 per cent silver | 99.9 per cent silver |
| Weight | 31.39 grams | 31.21 grams |
| Diameter | 38 millimetres | 38.61 millimetres |
| Obverse designer | Susanna Blunt (2003-present effigy); Dora de Pédery-Hunt (1990-2002 effigy); Arnold Machin (1965-1989 effigy); and Mary Gillick (1953-1964 effigy) | Jody Clark |
| Reverse designer | Royal Canadian Mint engravers | Timothy Noad |
| Quality | Proof | Proof |
| Mintage | 6,500 sets | |
| Retail price | £200 | |
BRITISH COIN
The double-dated British coin (reverse shown) features the royal cypher, the floral emblem of the United Kingdom’s nations and a line from the Queen’s first televised Christmas message.
The Royal Mint recruited British heraldic artist Timothy Noad to design its coin.
Its reverse, double-dated as “1926-2021,” includes the royal cypher, the floral emblem of the nations of the United Kingdom and the inscription “MY HEART AND MY DEVOTION” from the Queen’s first televised Christmas message in 1957. The obverse features the effigy portrait of the Queen by Royal Mint designer Jody Clark. This portrait was launched in September 2015 in conjunction with Queen Elizabeth II becoming Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
“It is wonderful to work with the Royal Canadian Mint to celebrate the 95th birthday of HRH Queen Elizabeth,” said Royal Mint CEO Anne Jessopp. “This joint set offers a beautifully crafted and unique way for collectors to mark the milestone.”
The two-coin set, limited to a mintage of 6,500, is packaged in a black presentation case bearing both mints’ logos. The packaging includes a certificate of authenticity for each coin and a serialized card with a message from both mints.