coin

Wednesday November 15, 2023

The Royal Canadian Mint is set to replace the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II with King Charles III's face on Canadian coins, with the winning design by Canadian portrait artist Steven Rosati awaiting approval from Buckingham Palace.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 15, 2023

Regal Evolution: From Elizabeth to Charles on Canadian Coins

May 6, 2023

The Royal Canadian Mint is about to embark on a new chapter, with Canadian coins soon featuring the face of King Charles. This shift in design, replacing the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II, marks a significant moment for the mint based in Winnipeg.

The chosen design, crafted by Canadian portrait artist Steven Rosati out of 350 entries, has been forwarded to Buckingham Palace for royal approval. Notably, the King’s effigy is poised to grace the iconic loonie for the first time, with a limited release of 2023-dated coins expected to circulate in early December.

News: The Royal Canadian Mint unveils the first coins bearing the face of King Charles III  

April 4, 2008

Reflecting on the history of Canadian coinage adds depth to this narrative. Dating back to 1857, when the dollar became Canada’s official monetary unit post-independence, the country’s coinage has undergone notable transformations. The introduction of decimal coins in 1858 and subsequent denominations in 1870 marked key milestones.

Over the years, the composition of Canadian coins, originally boasting a .925 silver content, has evolved, transitioning to .800 in 1920 and eventually abandoning silver in favour of pure nickel coins by 1968. Interestingly, Canada’s coinage journey also included large cents from 1858-1920, diverging from the smaller-sized US cent.

April 4, 2008

The need to differentiate Canadian and US currencies led to the issuance of a distinctive 25 cent coin around 1870. Despite initial delays, the silver dollar made its debut in 1935, featuring a portrait of George V.

Analysis: How does putting King Charles on Canadian money make people feel? It’s a coin toss  

Coins issued in Canada have historical ties to mints beyond its borders, with some struck in London’s Royal Mint or the Heaton Mint in England. Grading standards for Canadian coins align with those of the United States, emphasizing wear on the obverse, particularly in areas like crowns, laurel sprays, and hairlines.

August 7, 2003

In the present day, Canada boasts seven main denominations, including the iconic 1 C$ (Loonie), 2 C$ (Toonie), 50 Cent (Half Dollar), 25 Cent (Quarter), 10 Cents (Dime), and 5 Cent (Nickel). Yet, as we witness the introduction of King Charles on Canadian coins, it prompts reflection on the broader societal changes, like the diminishing role of physical coins in an era dominated by digital transactions. The cartoonish scenario of a grandmother introducing King Charles on a coin to her grandkids, met with confusion about both the monarch and the concept of coins, encapsulates this evolving landscape where tradition meets the modern age. (AI)

 

Thursday January 6, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday January 6, 2022

A year after Jan. 6 riot, Americans and Canadians agree U.S. democracy in peril: poll

January 8, 2021

One year after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, a majority of Americans and Canadians alike say democracy in the United States is under threat, a new poll suggests.

The poll, conducted by the Angus Reid Institute and released Thursday, also found stark differences in how the event is viewed by conservatives and liberals in both countries.

The divide is more severe in the U.S., where 68 per cent of respondents who voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 election disagree that the riots were an act of domestic terrorism — an opinion at odds with the FBI and other officials — while nearly three quarters still believe Trump won the election that he lost.

“There are only two (major) political parties in the U.S. … and this has become the narrative of one of those parties,” said Matthew Lebo, a political science professor at Western University who studies U.S. and Canadian politics.

“You cannot have a democracy with only one party that believes in democracy.”

Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the riots, which saw supporters of Trump violently storm the Capitol building and disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory the previous November. Seven people, including police officers, died during and after the siege.

Friday April 4, 2008

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 4, 2008

Tories may be changing position on penny

April 4, 2008

The federal Conservatives are throwing in their two cents on the bid to pull the penny from circulation. A day after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said his government isn’t interested in eliminating the penny right now, backbench Tory MP Rick Dykstra stepped forward with a motion indicating his party may have seen some sense in the idea.

Dykstra put a notice of motion on the order paper Thursday seeking a review of Canada’s coinage system “with a special emphasis on the one cent coin.”

The motion calls for a full study hearing from businesses, consumers, charities and all other relevant individuals and organizations.

Dykstra did not respond to a request for an interview Thursday.

NDP MP Pat Martin was excited to see the motion come up and said he’s certain it is because of interest generated by his private member’s bill.

That bill – introduced Wednesday – calls for the elimination of the penny from Canada’s monetary system by Jan. 1, 2009.

“They put a finger up to see which way the wind was blowing, and obviously they heard Canadians speak,” said Martin.

A Royal Canadian Mint study released last year showed almost two-thirds of small retailers, and just fewer than half of consumers, favour eliminating the penny. Large retailers are not in favour. (Source: National Post)

Well Known Penny expressions

“A penny saved is a penny earned.”

“In for a penny. In for a pound.”

“Penny wise, pound foolish.”

“Penny Ante.”

“Penny pincher.”

“I haven’t got a penny to my name.”

“Costs a pretty penny.”

“A penny for your thoughts.”

“Turn up like a bad penny.”

“Costs a pretty penny.”

“Pennies from heaven.”

“The penny dropped.”

“Penny fair.”

“Penny saver.”

“Penny drive.”

 

 

Friday April 4, 2008

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 4, 2008

Tories may be changing position on penny

The federal Conservatives are throwing in their two cents on the bid to pull the penny from circulation. A day after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said his government isn’t interested in eliminating the penny right now, backbench Tory MP Rick Dykstra stepped forward with a motion indicating his party may have seen some sense in the idea.

Dykstra put a notice of motion on the order paper Thursday seeking a review of Canada’s coinage system “with a special emphasis on the one cent coin.”

The motion calls for a full study hearing from businesses, consumers, charities and all other relevant individuals and organizations.

Dykstra did not respond to a request for an interview Thursday.

NDP MP Pat Martin was excited to see the motion come up and said he’s certain it is because of interest generated by his private member’s bill.

That bill – introduced Wednesday – calls for the elimination of the penny from Canada’s monetary system by Jan. 1, 2009.

“They put a finger up to see which way the wind was blowing, and obviously they heard Canadians speak,” said Martin.

A Royal Canadian Mint study released last year showed almost two-thirds of small retailers, and just fewer than half of consumers, favour eliminating the penny. Large retailers are not in favour. (Source: National Post)

 

Wednesday August 7, 2003

August 7, 2003

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 7, 2003

My, How Times Change

Britain’s Prince Charles is throwing open his new London mansion to give the public a rare glimpse of the lavish abode he will share with his two sons and long-time lover Camilla Parker Bowles.

April 9, 2002

The 54-year-old heir-to-the-throne took up official residence on Monday at Clarence House — a cream-coloured, five-storey home built in the 1820s and occupied by the Queen Mother for half a century until her death last year. 

Courtiers showed reporters round yesterday, and members of the public have already snapped up all 46,000 tickets for tours that will run until October. Anyone else interested in checking out the new royal digs can view Clarence House on the Internet; links are also on Prince Charles’ page. 

“The prince thinks the place is wonderful and he wanted people to see it,” Charles’ treasurer, Kevin Knott, told Reuters on the lawn in front of Clarence House yesterday. “It is just as he will live in it. It resonates his grandmother. And it’s a wonderful opportunity for people to see more of the royal art collection than they would otherwise.” (Reuters)