New Obverse Portrait on Canadian Coins

Summary#

The government approved the Order Authorizing the Issue, Specifying the Characteristics and Determining the Design of Six Circulation Coins (His Majesty King Charles III) on November 3, 2023, and it was published in the Canada Gazette on November 22, 2023. The order lets the Royal Canadian Mint put a new left‑facing portrait of His Majesty King Charles III (by Steven Rosati) on Canada’s standard circulation coins: 5-cent, 10-cent, 25-cent, 50-cent, $1, and $2. Existing coins with Queen Elizabeth II remain valid.

What it does#

• Replaces the obverse (front) portrait on standard circulation coins with the left‑facing effigy of His Majesty King Charles III, created by Steven Rosati. The obverse will include the initials “SR” and inscriptions such as “CHARLES III” and “D∙G∙REX.”
• Keeps the familiar reverse (back) designs for each denomination (beaver, Bluenose, caribou, arms, loon, polar bear), with their usual inscriptions and small artist initials.
• Adds or keeps security and design details on some coins:
  • $2: inner‑core polar bear design, security marks on the outer ring, edge inscriptions “CANADA” and “2 DOLLARS,” and diameter 28.03 mm.
  • $1: loon design with a maple‑leaf security feature, diameter 26.5 mm.
  • 50-cent: Arms of the Crown on reverse, diameter 27.13 mm (approved for consistency though not expected to be produced for regular commerce).
  • 25-cent: caribou reverse, diameter 23.88 mm.
  • 10-cent: Bluenose reverse, diameter 18.03 mm.
  • 5-cent: beaver reverse, diameter 21.2 mm.
• Says the Mint will produce and distribute these coins going forward; only the year of issue will change on future strikes.

Who's affected#

• Everyday cash users across Canada — the coins in your pocket will gradually show the new portrait as the Mint issues new sets.
• Businesses and services that handle large amounts of coins (vending, parking, transit, banks, retailers). The government says machines and systems should not be affected because the sizes and reverse designs stay the same.
• Royal Canadian Mint, which will do the design work and cover modest upfront tooling costs within its budget.
• Coin collectors and hobbyists, who may note the change and collect the new obverse variations.
• It’s unclear how soon the new portrait will appear widely in circulation; the order approves the design but rollout timing is up to the Mint.

Why it matters#

• This is the routine update that follows a change in Canada’s head of state. It ensures Canada’s circulation coins show the current monarch while leaving the familiar reverse designs intact.
• There should be no extra cost to Canadians or businesses, and older coins remain legal and usable.
• For people who track or collect coins, or for organizations that sort or service coin‑handling equipment, the change is something to note even though the physical sizes and most reverse images remain the same.