First batch of Canadian coins bearing King Charles’ face unveiled on his 75th birthday

A new era of Canadian coins was ushered in today.

The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled the first Canadian circulation coin bearing the effigy of King Charles III this morning.

It also happens to be the King’s 75th birthday.

The 2023-dated $1 coin, much better known as a Loonie, is the first circulation coin to display the portrait of a new monarch in seven decades.

It has been Queen Elizabeth’s effigy on Canadian coins to this point since 1953, one year after she took the throne.

"Since opening its doors in 1908, the Mint has featured the portrait of the reigning monarch on Canadian coins,” explained Marie Lemay, president and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.

“When the Government of Canada announced that the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III would appear on Canadian coins, we were proud to once more uphold a longstanding Canadian tradition.”

Lemay said that a large team worked hard to get the coin ready for production by King Charles’ birthday on Nov. 14.

The contemporary portrait of King Charles that will now grace our country’s coins is the work of Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

Montreal-based Rosati was selected over a strong field of finalists who were vying to design the coin and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland calls Rosati’s portrait a “fitting tribute.”

"I am honoured and humbled to have had my design of His Majesty King Charles III's effigy chosen for such a prestigious moment in the history of Canadian coins and very excited and proud to eventually see it in production," Rosati said.

Coins bearing King Charles’ face will begin to enter circulation over the coming weeks and the Mint is also issuing collector products in commemoration of the milestone.

To learn more about the new coins and the collector products available, click this link.