Close X
Sunday, December 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Cabinet Oks Plan For Mint To Craft Special Toonies To Mark D-Day Anniversary

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Dec, 2018 10:59 PM

    OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Mint is creating two commemorative coins to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.


    The Liberal cabinet approved the design of the new toonies, one of which will have multiple colours instead of the usual two-toned coin, to commemorate a key turning point in the Second World War.


    On June 6, 1944 a combined force of about 150,000 Allied troops, made up of largely of Canadian, American and British soldiers, stormed the beaches on France's Normandy coast, coming up against Nazi troops in concrete fortified gun positions.


    About 14,000 Canadians were involved in the assault, known as Operation Overlord. Canada also contributed some 110 ships and 15 fighter and bomber squadrons.


    On D-Day, 359 Canadians died as they ran from boats onto Juno Beach and more than 1,000 were injured.


    The invasion marked the start of months of fighting to free France from Nazi occupation and would eventually lead to victory in Europe.


    The Mint regularly creates commemorative coins to mark these kinds of anniversaries, having done so earlier this year with three million limited-edition toonies to mark the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War in 1918.


    And in 2014, for the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Mint created a commemorative silver coin depicting soldiers in full battle gear disembarking a landing craft towards Juno Beach. But the Mint only created 8,400 of the coins, for collectors. The new toonies are to be "circulation" coins, used as regular money.


    Alex Reeves, a spokesman for the Mint, said the Crown corporation couldn't discuss the new coins because it doesn't disclose information beyond what is published in official notices prior to the launch of a new commemorative coin.


    The government order says the D-Day toonies will have an image of four soldiers and one sailor, all wearing helmets and one holding a rifle, in a landing craft at Juno Beach.


    The helmet of the middle soldier will be olive green on the coloured toonie.


    There will also be renderings of a Canadian destroyer, barrage balloon and Spitfire fighter planes.


    The terms "D-Day" and "Remember," along with the French "Le Jour J" and "Souvenir" will be inscribed around the coins.


    Separately, the Liberals have also approved a commemorative loonie to mark the 50th anniversary of Parliament's decriminalizing homosexual acts.


    Up until 1969, sexual acts between consenting same-sex adults were deemed crimes in Canada and punishable by jail time.


    The loonie to be created by the Mint will have two faces overlapping to create one face, with a small hoop earring on the left ear, surrounded by wavy and curved lines, the official posting says.


    The words "Equality" and the French "Egalite" will be inscribed on the coin along with the year.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Vancouver-Born Animator Benson Shum Brings The Web To Life In 'Ralph Breaks The Internet'

    VANCOUVER — Animating "Ralph Breaks the Internet" not only entailed summoning bold imagination to bring the World Wide Web to life — it also meant tapping into fond memories to recreate beloved Disney characters.

    Vancouver-Born Animator Benson Shum Brings The Web To Life In 'Ralph Breaks The Internet'

    Vancouver Police Arrest Prince George Man For Historical Sex Assaults

    Vancouver police have arrested a Prince George man for alleged historical sexual offences involving a young girl and they believe there are more victims and witnesses.

    Vancouver Police Arrest Prince George Man For Historical Sex Assaults

    Liberals Look To Build Positive Frame Around Billions In Housing Spending

    OTTAWA — The first details from the Liberal government's decade-long housing plan show early spending has helped keep some 14,000 households in affordable units.

    Liberals Look To Build Positive Frame Around Billions In Housing Spending

    Tories Are Making 'Partisan' Arguments About Intent To Help Media: Morneau

    Tories Are Making 'Partisan' Arguments About Intent To Help Media: Morneau
    OTTAWA — Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the Conservatives are making partisan arguments about his plan to help the news industry with tax measures.

    Tories Are Making 'Partisan' Arguments About Intent To Help Media: Morneau

    Bill C-76 Just One Tool To Deter Foreign Election Interference: Karina Gould

    Bill C-76 Just One Tool To Deter Foreign Election Interference: Karina Gould
    OTTAWA — A bill aimed at protecting Canadians from foreign attempts to influence how they vote is facing criticism that it's too weak to do the job.

    Bill C-76 Just One Tool To Deter Foreign Election Interference: Karina Gould

    B.C. Electoral Reform Option Designed By University Of Alberta Student

    His hometown riding in northern Alberta was a secure seat for a party that he didn't support, so voting for anyone else under the first-past-the-post system felt like a wasted ballot.

    B.C. Electoral Reform Option Designed By University Of Alberta Student