This $20 fine silver coin marks the 75th anniversary of the WWII Victory in Europe, and is the Royal Canadian Mint’s final coin in the Battlefront series. The coin is a special tribute to all the Canadians and Newfoundlanders who fought on the battlefronts of the world, and to those who supported their efforts from the homefront. Mintage is limited to 7,500. HST/GST exempt.
Victory requires sacrifices of many kinds, and that’s what this intricately engraved design represents. The bold “V” and the flaming torch from the 1943-45 Victory Nickel are echoes of our past and express a desire to never forget. Completing the maple leaf-shaped arrangement are the geometric forms that represent the different backgrounds (cultural, ethnic, linguistic) of the men and women who served, as well as their contributions to victory 75 years ago.
The Design:
Set against a sunburst, the reverse design by Canadian artist Jamie Desrochers offers a modern take on the 1943-45 Victory Nickel designed by Thomas Shingles. The original “V” for Victory and the torch symbol of sacrifice have been updated to represent the new generations who are carrying the torch of remembrance on the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (“1945” and “2020”). The two maple leaves from the wartime coin play a larger role in this design, where a large maple leaf in the background subtly unifies the maple leaf-shaped arrangement of geometric shapes. The forms represent different peoples, races, cultures and the varied backgrounds of the men and women who contributed to the Allied victory in 1945. The obverse features the effigy of King George VI by T.H. Paget and a Victory privy mark.