Canada Elizabeth II 50 Cents

History

50 Cents 1965-1966, KM# 63, Canada, Elizabeth II

Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com

Description

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 1926–2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and of 14 other Commonwealth realms. Her reign of 70 years and seven months, which began on 6 February 1952, was the longest of any British monarch in history.

When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), as well as Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities and withdrawal from the European Union. The number of her realms varied over time as territories have gained independence and some realms have become republics.

Times of personal significance have included the births and marriages of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, her coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively.

Obverse	Crown, jewelry Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara Person (king, queen, tsar etc.) Elizabeth II Second crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage. ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA means Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen. Engraver: Arnold Machin ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Lion Coat of arms Canada Legendary creature (dragon, unicorn etc.) Unicorn Depicts a complete version of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada, proclaimed by King George V on November 21, 1921, surrounded by the date, the facial value and the inscription CANADA. The design of the coat of arms includes: • symbols of the four founding nations of Canada featured on the shield: the three royal lions of England, the royal lion of Scotland, the royal fleur-de-lis of France, and the royal Irish harp of Tara; • the lion of England holding the Royal Union Flag and the unicorn of Scotland carrying the flag of Royal France; • a sprig of red maple leaves at the bottom, is a distinctly Canadian symbol that became gradually identified with the country throughout the 19th century; • the Royal Crown at the top, indicating that these are the Arms of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. A Mari Usque Ad Mare (English: From Sea to Sea) is the Canadian national motto. The phrase comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of Psalm 72:8 in the Bible: "Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad terminos terrae" (King James Bible: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth"). Below the ribbon is a stylized set of crossed branches which contain an English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock and French fleur-de-lis. Engraver: Thomas Shingles CANADA 19 65 50 CENTS A MARI T S AD MARE USQUE
Edge	Reeded (milled)