Photo of new D-Day coin by Royal Canadian Mint
A new commemorative D-Day toonie was unveiled at the Moncton Garrison on Monday.
The Garisson is home of the 37 Brigade of the North Shore Regiment, whose troops were among the 13 Canadian regiments landing at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944.
Public Affairs Officer Captain Ian McIntyre says the Royal Canadian Mint has been working on the coin for about two years.
He says a number of Canadian veterans were present at the unveiling, including one of the few surviving North Shore Regiment members who fought in the Second World War.
“The respect and the recognition that Canadians are showing for those veterans is tremendous,” says McIntyre.
Canadian artist Alan Daniel designed the piece, which features Canadian soldiers peering from their landing craft en route to Juno Beach.
On the outer ring, engravings of ships and aircraft illustrate the massive air and naval operation which supported the troops taking part in the largest seaborne invasion in military history.
The coin honours the 14,000 Canadians who took part and salutes the forces that supported them by air and sea.
“Ever since our very first Poppy coin in 2004, the Royal Canadian Mint has proudly issued special circulation coins to help Canadians remember the service and sacrifice of Canada’s veterans and active military,” said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.
“D-Day lives on as one of Canada’s greatest military achievements of the Second World War and our veterans’ role in this crucial Allied victory will be remembered for generations through our new $2 circulation coin,” she added.
Limited to a mintage of 3 million coins, of which 2 million will feature colour, the $2 circulation coin commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day have now entered general circulation.
