Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 25 Cents 2000, KM# 379, Canada, Elizabeth II, Third Millennium, Creativity, Expression for all Time
  • 25 Cents 2000, KM# 379, Canada, Elizabeth II, Third Millennium, Creativity, Expression for all Time
Description

To celebrate the new millennium, Canada created a two-year circulating commemorative program that was conducted in two parts: one in 1999 and one in 2000. Each program released 12 quarters per year and each featured a unique design.

The 1999 designs were meant to look back on Canada's past, honouring the development and achievements of the nation, while the 2000 designs depicting the hopes and dreams for the future of Canada. While the 1999 coins were labelled with their month of issue, the 2000 coins were labelled with the relevant theme.

Obverse

Depicts the third portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, when she was 64 years old, facing right, wearing the George IV State Diadem and surrounded by the inscription. This was the first to be designed by a Canadian, Dora de Pédery-Hunt.

The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a type of crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by queens and queens consort in procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. The piece of jewellery has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

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: Dora de Pédery-Hunt

ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA
25 CENTS

Reverse

A scenery, which shows an insight of arts in three millenniums, in the left part of the coin, a boat in Inuit art - in the upper part, a tree in style of the Group of Seven - in the right part, the landscape is rendered in wireframes, all surrounded by the country name below and the bilingual inscription "Creativity 2000" above.

Inuit art refers to artwork produced by Inuit people, that is, the people of the Arctic previously known as Eskimos, a term that is now often considered offensive outside Alaska. Historically, their preferred medium was walrus ivory, but since the establishment of southern markets for Inuit art in 1945, prints and figurative works carved in relatively soft stone such as soapstone, serpentinite, or argillite have also become popular.

The Group of Seven, also sometimes known as the Algonquin School, was a group of Canadian landscape painters from 1920 to 1933, originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael (1890–1945), Lawren Harris (1885–1970), A. Y. Jackson (1882–1974), Frank Johnston (1888–1949), Arthur Lismer (1885–1969), J. E. H. MacDonald (1873–1932), and Frederick Varley (1881–1969). Later, A. J. Casson (1898–1992) was invited to join in 1926, Edwin Holgate (1892–1977) became a member in 1930, and LeMoine FitzGerald (1890–1956) joined in 1932. Believing that a distinct Canadian art could be developed through direct contact with nature, the Group of Seven is best known for its paintings inspired by the Canadian landscape, and initiated the first major Canadian national art movement.

Engraver: Eric (Kong Tat) Hui

CREATIVITY 2000 CRÉATIVITÉ
EH
CANADA

Edge

25 Cents

3rd portrait

Third Millennium
Creativity, Expression for all Time

Subscribe series
KM# 379 Schön# 380
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Nickel
Weight 5.08 g
Diameter 23.8 mm
Thickness 1.58 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Canadian Mint (RCM)

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