Obverse. Photo © Royal Canadian Mint
  • 2 Dollars 2020, Canada, Elizabeth II, 75th Anniversary of WWII Victory
  • 2 Dollars 2020, Canada, Elizabeth II, 75th Anniversary of WWII Victory
Description

One of the most important days in both Canadian and European history, VE Day (Victory in Europe), celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2020.

Victory in Europe Day, generally known as V-E Day, VE Day or simply V Day, was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces. It thus marked the end of World War II in Europe.

The term VE Day existed as early as September 1944, in anticipation of victory. On 30 April 1945, Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin. Germany's surrender, therefore, was authorised by his successor, Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg Government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France and on 8 May in Berlin, Germany. The former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries have historically celebrated the end of World War II on 9 May.

Obverse

Fourth portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, when she was 77 years old, facing right and surrounded with the inscription. A maple leaf above, country name and denomination below.

Dei Gratia Regina (often abbreviated to D. G. Regina and seen as D·G·REGINA) is a Latin title meaning By the Grace of God, Queen.

Engraver: Susanna Blunt

ELIZABETH II D·G· REGINA
SB
CANADA 2 DOLLARS

Reverse

The design pays tribute to the Victory 5-cent coin designed by Thomas Shingles ("T.S.", KM# 40). 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 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.

VICTORY VICTOIRE
1945 V 2020
T.S.
REMEMBER SOUVENIR

Edge

CANADA * 2 DOLLARS *

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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Brass Plated Aluminium Bronze
Weight 6.99 g
Diameter 28 mm
Thickness 1.8 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Canadian Mint (RCM)

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