After more than 70 years as the Heir Apparent, King Charles III succeeded to the throne on September 8th, 2022 upon the passing of his mother Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This 2023 $5 fine silver coin has been released by the Royal Canadian Mint as part of Canada’s celebration of the Coronation of the new King, and commemorates the beginning of a new Royal era. The coin has a weight of one quarter ounce fine silver. GST/HST exempt.
The Design:
The simple but elegant design features His Majesty’s Royal Cypher encircled by beads together with the denomination and CANADA. As an historical anomaly, the obverse of this first King Charles III issue still features a posthumous effigy of late Queen Elizabeth, as the Royal Canadian Mint works towards completing a new effigy for the King.
The Royal Cypher:
A royal cypher is a monarch’s identifier, much like a coat of arms. Cyphers have been used by British royals since the time of Henry VIII. They generally feature the monarch’s initial and titles, often beneath a symbol of rule, such as a crown. Unlike monograms that interweave letters, royal cyphers display each letter distinctly. The cipher for the new King was selected by His Majesty from a series of designs prepared by the College of Arms, consists of the initials 'C' and 'R' - representing Charles's name and "Rex," the Latin for king - alongside a depiction of the crown.
