Time For A New Portrait Of The Queen?

I disagree art and dart.

The Queen is a National Icon!

Americans can tell that stuff is Canadian when it has a maple leaf, beaver, Canadian flag or, for coins, a non-British Style monarch picture. (this comes from me asking questions to a few people... I showed the queens portrait on the Canadian cent and the Portrait on a British cent, and they could tell the Difference instantly...)

She is also (technically) the highest authority in Canada.

As Winchild said, we southerners can readily ID Canadian coins b/c of the decidedly Canadian symbols that have always adorned them. Personally I have always thought Canadian coins (leaving out the present effigy of the Queen), have been some of the best designed worldwide. And I think its kind of cool having a country so close that still has a Queen on their coins.

I'd say that our paper (erm polymer) currency already strikes a good balance by having our monarch along with past Canadian prime ministers on our banknotes.

I've often debated whether we should push to feature Canadian figureheads on our coinage. I'd love to see Canada continue to forge its own identity in the world and this would be a major way of shaking things up. Having said all of that, are the caribou, the beaver, the maple leaf, the loon, the polar bear and the Bluenose II not strong Canadian icons in their own right? I mean, we can't get more Canadian can we?

Removing the Monarch from our currency will certainly open a huge and potentially messy debate for Canadians. Do we become a republic or do we retain our position in the Commonwealth? Why mess with tradition? I for one enjoy our ties to the Monarchy, but lets face it, we as a nation are free to conduct ourselves as we chose. The monarchy is symbolic of our history. What next, remove the Union Jack and other symbols of the British Isles from our various flags and coat of arms?

@Anjohl

Funny you should mention the design of our coins down here. We never started having the current series issues until they took a lesson from the RCM producing so many varieties on quarters. I think the US mints saw an opportunity to bring in more money by mimicking the RCM.

You asked for the young generations opinion.....

I'm a YN!

My opinion is what most youth I have met have said...

I agree with that...
My sources are from Ontario, Newfoundland, BC, Quebec and Alberta.

Newfoundland has the most support for them... Followed by Ontario... Quebec is the least support.. Then Alberta.

I personally love History, so I know a lot about the War of 1812.

Also, I am from Ontario, but have recently moved back from Alberta (lived there for 6 years)

I have heard that the State Quarter program was directly inspired by the incredible provincial program we had in 1992. I have that set in silver proof, and they are stunning. They were also one of the three series, along with the 67 centennial and early 80's dollars that originalyl piqued my interest in the hobby.

That being said, I think the RCM goes MUCH too far with the variety of quarter designs. I get the value in terms of seigniorage, but I have not found any of the series after the colored olympic coins worth collecting, nor any between those and the 92's. The US state and ATB are wonderful coins, and very collectible, while being very useful as education aids.

I can imagine a teacher starting collections for each student, as they learn about a state or event, they get a quarter for their set, etc, etc. I really wish we would put out coins honoring figures from our history.

How about dumping the Monarchy. Well past time! Lots of interesting CANADIANS could grace the obverse of our coins.