Feds Announce King Charles III Will Appear on New Canadian Coins, $20 Banknote

The Royal coin is unveiled by Minister of Public Services and Procurement Helena Jaczek (R) and President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint Marie Lemay during coronation celebrations in honour of King Charles III, in Ottawa on May 6, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby)

The image of Queen Elizabeth II on Canada’s coins and $20 bill will soon be replaced by an image of King Charles III.

On May 6, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in England for the King’s coronation, a news release issued by his office said the government will unveil a new Royal Crown, Royal Flag, Canadian stamp, and collector coins at a celebration in Ottawa later that day.

The news release said the new Canadian Royal Crown will incorporate unique Canadian elements, “including stylized maple leaves and a wavy blue line representing the country’s lands and waterways.” The new King approved all the designs. The government said Canadians will be able to see the design of the new effigy for circulation coins in the coming months.

The new flag, a rectangular representation of the shield of the coat of arms of Canada, features maple leaves and royal emblems of the United Kingdom and France.

“The flag emphasizes that the Royal Arms of Canada are also the arms of the monarch of Canada and will serve for all future sovereigns. The flag was created by the Canadian Heraldic Authority,” said the news release.

The Royal Crown is unveiled by Samy Khalid (L), chief herald of Canada at the Canadian Heraldic Authority, and Donald Booth, Canadian secretary to the King, during coronation celebrations in honour of King Charles III in Ottawa on May 6, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby)

Canada Post also unveiled the first stamp honouring the new King. The Crown corporation’s tradition of issuing stamps depicting the Canadian sovereign dates back some 170 years. The new stamp features a portrait of a younger King Charles, taken when he was the Prince of Wales.

The Royal Canadian Mint has also released special collector coins bearing King Charles III’s Royal Cypher.

In addition, the federal government has instructed the Mint to design a portrait of King Charles to be placed on Canadian coins that will be in circulation, a tradition in place since the Mint began production in 1908.

The Mint told CBC it will invite artists to submit designs, and once a final design is chosen, Buckingham Palace must approve it. The King’s likeness on Canadian coins will face left, while the Queen’s image faced right.

The Mint said it expects to be able to share the selected design with Canadians in the fall.

The only Canadian bill bearing the image of the country’s monarch is the $20 banknote. The image of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on the note will be replaced by an image of King Charles III.

The reigning monarch has appeared on Canadian banknotes since the Bank of Canada began production in 1935. The process for updating the bill will take a few years, said the Prime Minister Office’s news release.

Existing coins and $20 notes bearing the late Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait will remain legal tender.

The federal government says it intends to award 30,000 coronation medals to Canadians who have made a significant contribution to Canada, a province, territory, region, or community, or an achievement abroad that brings benefit or honour to Canadians or Canada.

Canada, as part of the Commonwealth, is a constitutional monarchy. While the prime minister is Canada’s head of government, King Charles III is Canada’s head of state, and the Governor General represents the King in Canada and as such is Canada’s de facto head of state.

King Charles III acceded to the throne on Sept. 8, 2022, following the passing of his 96-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years over the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms.