2025 Coloured $2 Honouring Canada's Unknown Soldier Brilliant Uncirculated (MS63)

2025 Coloured $2 Honouring Canada's Unknown Soldier Brilliant Uncirculated (MS63)

Saluting the one who represents the many.

Few symbols are more sacred than the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and none more eloquently express the enduring consequences of war. The Unknown Soldier’s tomb is hallowed ground, and, every November 11, it becomes one of the focal points for our collective remembrance, grief and gratitude for Canada’s service members past, present, and future.

Designed by Mary-Ann Liu, sculptor of the tomb’s bronze relief, the 2025 $2 Honouring Canada’s Unknown Soldier Commemorative Circulation Coin calls all Canadians to remembrance.

Selected from among the 1,603 unknown Canadians buried in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge, the remains of Canada’s Unknown Soldier were exhumed from plot 8, Row E, Grave 7 in the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in France, then taken by hearse to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, where the official handover ceremony took place on May 25, 2000.

The original “Known unto God” headstone was relocated to the Memorial Hall at the Canadian War Museum, where, weather permitting, sunlight shines directly on it once a year, illuminating it at precisely 11 a.m. on Remembrance Day.

The gravesite in France is now marked by a stone marker bearing this inscription: “THE FORMER GRAVE OF AN UNKNOWN CANADIAN SOLDIER OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR. HIS REMAINS WERE REMOVED ON 25 MAY 2000 AND NOW LIE INTERRED AT THE NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL IN OTTAWA CANADA“

Designed by Canadian artist Mary-Ann Liu, sculptor of the bronze relief on Canada’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the coin’s reverse commemorates the 25ᵗʰ anniversary of the repatriation of Canada’s Unknown Soldier. The inner core features a street-level view of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The base of the granite tomb extends onto the outer ring, which bears the words “CANADA”, a face value of “2 DOLLARS”, the bilingual inscription “TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER LA TOMBE DU SOLDAT INCONNU”, and two maple leaf security features. The silhouettes of four sentries representing all Canadians who serve or have served appear behind the tomb. The inclusion of a poppy, bright red on the colourized coin, completes this poignant expression, honouring sacrifice and national service. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

Specifications:
Composition: Outer Ring: Three-ply nickel-plated steel; Inner Core: Three-ply brass-plated aluminum bronze with selective colour
Weight: 6.99 g 
Diameter: 28 mm
Finish: Circulation
Edge: Interrupted serrations
Face Value: $2 
Artists: Mary-Ann Liu (reverse), Steven Rosati (obverse)