The 2023 Limited Edition Silver Dollar ("LE SD") celebrates the Coronation of King Charles III, King of Canada. Charles' coronation date was May 6, 2023; the LE SD was released on the same day.
King Charles III - Official Coronation Photograph
(Image Source: Buckingham Palace / The Royal Household[//i]The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place in 1953, so the Coronation of Charles III was the first in 70 years! Charles III's Coronation took place in London's Westminster Abbey; it was conducted by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Westminster Abbey has been the site of 40 Coronations (38 individual and one dual: 38 + 2 = 40), dating back to 1066 and the Coronation of William the Conqueror.
The LE SD has a diameter of 36.07 millimeters, weighs 23.17 grams, is 0.999 fine silver, has a serrated/reeded edge and was struck as a Proof coin. The LE SD had a maximum mintage of 25,000 and an Issue Price of $69.95 (CAD). (Final, confirmed sales/mintage figures are not yet available for the LE SD but it has been reported as "Sold Out".)
The LE SD's obverse features the right-facing portrait (by Susanna Blunt) of Queen Elizabeth II. To the left of QE II's portrait are the stacked dates "1952" and "2022" that indicate the bookend years of the Queen's reign. The dates are separated by four 'pearls' which symbolize the four QE II portraits used on Canadian coins.
The coin's reverse presents the Royal Cypher of King Charles III; it is flanked by "fleur-de-lis inspired flourishes."
Note: A Royal Cypher is a personalized monogram of a reigning monarch. It combines his/her initials and regnal title; the monogram is typically surmounted by a crown. For King Charles III, the "C" represents "Charles", the "R III" represents the Latin "Rex" or King with the "III" indicating his regnal number (he is the third British King named Charles). The jeweled-crown depicted above the monogram is the Tudor Crown.With an obverse portrait of QE II and the Royal Cypher of King Charles III on the reverse, I consider the 2023 LE SD to be a "Transition Coin" that bridges the reigns of the two monarchs. (The official coinage portrait of King Charles III was not unveiled until November 14, 2023.)
[i]Note: The Royal Canadian Mint also issued A $200 Gold coin and a $10 Gold coin in addition to a $5 Silver coin featuring the Rpyal Cypher. The coins constitute a Coronation-themed collection.
The LE SD was packaged in a RCM-branded black clam shell case inserted into a green and gold outer "Beauty Box."
2023 Royal Cypher Limited Edition Silver Dollar
2023 Royal Cypher Limited Edition Silver Dollar Beauty Box
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including other Canadian numismatics stories, see:
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