2020 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War Commemorative Collector Keepsake Card

Own both versions of the 2020 remembrance-themed circulation coin.

With its "V" for Victory and its coded message to Canadians everywhere, Thomas Shingles' Victory design reflected this nation's spirit in 1945. Now, 75 years later, we're bringing the famous design back on a new $2 commemorative circulation coin, which honours the contributions and sacrifices that paved the way to Allied victory.

This keepsake set features two versions of Canada's $2 circulation coin issued in 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Both the uncoloured and coloured versions appear alongside our classic $1, 25-, 10- and 5-cent circulation denominations, and all six coins are packaged in a special collector card.

It's an easy way to view and display the newest addition to your collection! Order today†.

• TOKENS OF THE PAST: To mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we're bringing back the Victory coin design that is a longstanding symbol of remembrance.
  
• PIECES OF CANADIAN COIN HISTORY: The wartime design is part of the Mint's history: Thomas Shingles designed it in his first year as Master Engraver of the Royal Canadian Mint.
• INCLUDES TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS: This set includes two versions of the $2 commemorative circulation coin: an uncoloured (engraved-only) piece and a selectively coloured one.
  
• THE YEAR IN COINS: Grouped together in a keepsake collector card, this set gives you uncirculatedversions of Canadian circulation coins issued in 2020.
  
• SIX COINS IN TOTAL: You get one of every denomination circulating in 2020, including four classic designs ($1, 25-, 10- and 5-cent coins) and two versions of the $2 commemorative coin.

Design:
The reverse pays tribute to the Victory 5-cent coin designed by Thomas Shingles ("T.S."). On the inner core, a "V" for Victory is overlaid with a flaming torch and flanked by maple leaves, while the double dates "1945" and "2020" commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. At the top of the outer ring, two images of a maple leaf appear within the line pattern. The words "VICTORY" and "VICTOIRE" are framed by an inscription in International (Morse) Code; when translated, the dots and dashes mean "WE WIN WHEN WE WORK WILLINGLY" and "LA BONNE VOLONTÉ EST GAGE DE VICTOIRE". At the bottom of the outer ring, the inscriptions "REMEMBER" and "SOUVENIR" are paired with two security marks consisting of a maple leaf within another maple leaf. The selectively coloured $2 coin adds a deep blue colour to the "V" symbol and a mix of orange and yellow to the silver torch's flame. The obverse features the word "CANADA", the denomination ("2 DOLLARS") and the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

• The 1943 Victory 5-Cent Coin was the first one to be minted with master tooling that had been entirely made in Canada (Thomas Shingles engraved the master matrix by hand).
  
• The Victory design was re-created on a previous commemorative circulation coin: the 2005 Victory Anniversary Nickel. We made history with that coin: we became the first Commonwealth country to issue a current-year circulation coin with the effigy of a former reigning Monarch.

Order today†.

†Free standard shipping in Canada only.

2020 Proof Silver Dollar - 75th Anniversary of V-E Day

May 8, 1945: After years of wartime sacrifices, the first opportunity to celebrate peace had finally come. News of the war’s end in Europe unleashed a wave of joy and relief that swept over both sides of the Atlantic, spilling into countries that Canada had helped liberate.

“What a celebration! People were cheering, some were standing numb, some were hugging, tears coming down their faces and people crying. The war was over!”
Clarence Mitchell, Royal Canadian Navy

Introducing the 2020 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day collection.

Our 2020 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day collection is the multi-part story of Canada in 1945—a story of wartime contributions and a peacetime legacy. It begins on the 2020 Proof Dollar, where the design strikes a balance between celebration and remembrance and sets the tone for coins to come. Our own past is present, with the 1945 Victory nickel serving as the inspiration for design elements that are the hallmarks of this collection—from the Victory privy mark to the holographic decal on each beauty box. This is our way of paying tribute to all who contributed to the fight for freedom, wherever Canada was needed.

Inspired by the 1945 Victory nickel, a large “V” for Victory dominates your 2020 Proof Silver Dollar. Order today.

• OUR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT SETS THE TONE: Our flagship product sets the tone for a yearlong commemoration of a major anniversary in 2020: the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
• THE END IS THE BEGINNING: Your proof dollar is the starting point for a historical journey that spans several coins in 2020. It is the story of Canada leading up to V-E Day, of a nation’s contributions and its reaction to the end of the Second World War in Europe.
• WE CELEBRATE THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE: We remember the fallen. Every branch of the Canadian Armed Forces is represented in the three silhouettes on this coin.
• NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE: A new engraving technique made it possible to fade out the crowd at the top without impacting the silhouettes in the bottom portion.
• A VICTORY PRIVY MARK: Every coin in our 2020 V-E Day collection—including your Proof Dollar—features a special privy mark that was inspired by the 1945 Victory nickel. An updated version of the historic 5-cent coin is available as part of the 2020 Proof Dollar Set , which includes a selectively gold-plated version of this proof dollar.
• ANOTHER NOD TO OUR HISTORY: Canada’s Victory nickel also inspired the “V” seen on this coin’s reverse.
• INCLUDES HOLOGRAPHIC V-E DAY DECAL: A holographic V-E Day decal extends the celebration beyond the coin and onto the beauty box. This logo is the hallmark of our 2020 V-E Day collection.
• HISTORIC OBVERSE: Another collection-wide feature is the obverse design, which features the effigy of the reigning monarch in 1945.
• INCLUDES SERIALIZED CERTIFICATE: The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.
• LIMITED MINTAGE: Only 25,000 coins are available worldwide.
• 99.99% PURE SILVER COIN: Your coin has been expertly crafted in 99.99% pure silver with a proof finish that accentuates every detail to stunning effect. In addition, your coin has no GST/HST.

“Victory in Europe Day was the start a period of rebirth for Europe, as the Nazi yoke of oppression had finally been lifted and many people were looking forward to better times. Canada played a major role in that victory, which came at a cost of 45,000 killed with many thousands more wounded. We had established ourselves as not only determined warriors but compassionate victors who could look back with pride at our defence of Britain and liberation of Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium and The Netherlands. At the same time, we were willing to work with our defeated adversaries to help build a better Europe. This legacy lives on not only in the faces of our ageing wartime Veterans but also in the peaceful and prosperous Europe we as a nation helped establish.”
Ed Storey, CD (CME Retired): Expert

Inspired by the 1945 Victory nickel, a large “V” for Victory dominates the reverse design by artist Pandora Young. The crowd represents jubilation on the home front on May 8, 1945, a day when Canadians poured into streets and public places to celebrate Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. The spontaneous celebration gradually fades behind the “V” to become a scene of remembrance, with three silhouettes representing the different branches (navy, army and air force) of the Canadian and British Armed Forces in which Canadians and Newfoundlanders served. The obverse features the effigy of King George VI by T. H. Paget and a Victory privy mark.

“I was moved by the opportunity to commend all who supported, hoped, sacrificed and finally celebrated on the home front between 1939 and 1945—especially since there are fewer opportunities to commemorate the roles women and children played in Canada’s war effort. While designing this coin, I studied scenes of V-E Day celebrations in Canada and other Allied countries, and strove to recapture some of that exuberance and joy!” Pandora Young: Artist

“There’s no real way to fade out a design so I had to create a raised surface or plateau that was about 50 microns higher than the field— any higher risked interfering with the strike. This is something we’ve never done before but it gave us the right volume of material to achieve a sharp impression on the bottom half of the coin.” Alex Tirabasso, Engraver

• Dressed in her Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Services uniform, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) was secretly among the crowd that celebrated V-E Day outside Buckingham Palace in London.
• V-E Day marks the end of the war in Europe but not the end of the Second World War. War continued in the Pacific until Imperial Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, also known as Victory Over Japan (V-J) Day. Canada played a limited role in the Pacific but was preparing to transfer a large force from Europe when the war ended.
• V-E Day celebrations had a false start on April 28 when rumours of Germany’s surrender proved to be premature. While May 8 was officially designated V-E Day (and a public holiday), some Canadians began celebrating on May 7, the day the surrender agreement was signed in Reims, France.
• Between 1939 and 1945, more than a million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the Second World War. Over 45,000 lost their lives while 55,000 more were wounded. The war touched every aspect of life in Canada and shaped who we are today.

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.

Order today.