Canada’s Mint Unveils Charles III Portrait

On November 14, Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) CEO and President Marie Lemay unveiled Canada’s effigy of King Charles III and struck the first coins bearing his likeness. This historic date also coincided with the monarch’s 75th birthday.

The historic event occurred at the mint’s Winnipeg, Manitoba, facility. The first coin struck with the effigy was a 2023 $1 circulation coin whose obverse features the new portrait by Canadian artist Stephen Rosati. 

Based in Montreal, Rosati is only the third Canadian artist to design a royal effigy since 1990. His predecessors are Susanna Blunt, whose effigy was used from 2003 to 2023, and Dora de Pedery-Hunt, whose portrait appeared from 1990 to 2002. 

On May 6, the mint announced that the obverse of future Canadian coins would feature King Charles III’s portrait. It then invited experienced artists and engravers to prepare “made-in-Canada” effigies. Rosati’s design was selected from those submitted.

Since the RCM began operating in 1908, it has used a portrait of the reigning monarch on Canadian coins. Before 1990, non-Canadian artists produced the effigies. As Lemay said at the first-strike ceremony, using Canadian-made designs has become a proud tradition.

By next month, the mint plans to begin circulating a small volume of coins in all denominations with the new portrait. Bullion and collector coins will also bear the new obverse in December. 

To learn more about the RCM’s Charles III portrait, visit the mint’s website.