(Winnipeg) The first Canadian coins bearing the effigy of King Charles III will soon be in circulation across the country.
The Royal Canadian Mint will present Tuesday at its Winnipeg factory the effigy of King Charles that it has chosen to now appear on the obverse of all Canadian coins.
The Royal Canadian Mint said a small quantity of coins dated 2023 featuring King Charles is expected to circulate in early December.
The new coins will feature works by Canadian portrait artist Steven Rosati, who has designed other coins for the Mint, including six National Hockey League silver goalie coins and a commemorative 100 dollar.e anniversary in honor of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Mint’s website says the federal agency invited more than 350 artists and engravers to submit a portfolio to its review committee. Shortlisted artists were given mandatory design requirements and their work was judged based on aesthetics, technical requirements and suitability for mass production. The winning design was then sent to Buckingham Palace for final approval.
King Charles will offer his left profile, while his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, showed her right profile on all Canadian coins.
The Mint said it has used Canadian artists since 1990 to design its royal effigies, to showcase local talent.
The Canadian government earlier this year asked the Royal Mint and the Bank of Canada to replace the effigy of the Queen with that of the King on its coins and on the $20 bill.
The Mint previously issued pure gold and silver collector coins to mark the coronation of King Charles, who ascended the throne in September 2022 following the death of his 96-year-old mother, who reigned for 70 years . Charles III celebrated the start of his reign with a lavish coronation attended by world leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on May 6.
Other Commonwealth countries have also decided to replace effigies of the Queen on their currencies. In Australia, the gold dollar coin is expected to be the first in the country to feature an effigy of Charles III. This country expects about 10 million dollar coins to be in circulation by Christmas.
All Canadian coins still in circulation with the effigy of the Queen are obviously legal tender.