Canada Post has marked the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II with a new commemorative stamp. The stamp, unveiled by Governor General David Johnston, depicts the Queen’s deep connection to Canada, from the Queen’s display of her Canadian honours to the presence of the Canadian flag. Her hand is shown resting near a copy of the British North America Act from 1867. The portrait featured on the stamp was painted by noted Canadian artist Phil Richards on the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and was unveiled last year in London. The portrait now hangs at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
“Queen Elizabeth’s dedication to her role and her relationship with this country make this stamp a fitting tribute,” said Paul Calandra, member of Parliament for the Oak Ridges-Markham riding in southern Ontario, and parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian Heritage. “The diamond anniversary of her coronation is an occasion deserving of a special issue and the painting by Canadian artist Phil Richards offers a beautiful depiction of this remarkable monarch,” said Deepak Chopra, president and CEO of Canada Post. Although Queen Elizabeth II assumed the throne in February 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, her coronation did not take place until June 2, 1953. Canada Post has issued 69 stamps featuring Queen Elizabeth II during her 60-year reign as Queen of Canada.
Last year, a large range of stamps was issued to mark her six decades on the throne, including six mini-sheets. The new coronation stamps measure 32.25 by 39.75 millimetres and are self-adhesive with simulated perforations. The Permanent-rate domestic stamps are printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company on Tullis Russell paper using five-colour lithography with four-side general tagging. The official first-day cover features a cancel from Ottawa and a portrait of the Queen, based on the painting used to create the stamp. About 3.5 million of the stamps have been produced and are sold in booklets of 10.
Also available is a philatelic-numismatic cover (PNC) and Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a collector’s edition DVD. The philatelic-numismatic cover includes the stamp, with a first-day cancel dated May 8, from Ottawa, and a Canadian 25-cent colourized coin produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. The coin uses a detail from the same portrait used to create the stamp. The rest of the PNC cover is dominated by a full-colour image of the Queen on her coronation day, in the Gold State Coach she rode to and from the ceremony.