Commemorating the Liberation of the Netherlands 75th Anniversary Coin

Between the fall of 1944 and the spring of 1945, the Canadian Army was given the important, yet deadly task of liberating the Netherlands and its people that were suffering terrible hunger and hardship under the increasingly desperate German occupiers.

The battle campaign saw two Canadian Army Corps: led by Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes, members of the 1st Canadian Corps fought alongside members of the 2nd Canadian Corps, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. They fought together through the country’s villages, cities, canals, and farmlands to drive out the occupying Nazi forces to liberate the Netherlands. 

The Liberation of the Netherlands was Canada’s last major contribution to the Allied victory in Europe. But this great victory came at a terrible cost. 

Of the 175,000 Canadian soldiers who participated in the eight-month campaign, more than 7,600 died.

To honour the soldiers that were part of the campaign, the Royal Canadian Mint released the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherland coin. 

The coin recognizes the incredible courage and sacrifices Canadians and Newfoundlanders that fought and those who gave their lives to liberate the Netherlands from the tyranny of Nazi Germany.

Available to order today, this limited edition, silver coin pays tribute to the Canadian Army and the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Designed by Joel Kimmel, the coin uses selective colour to highlight a warm exchange between a soldier of the First Canadain Army and a Dutch woman during the Liberation of the Netherlands. 

“The woman offers a gift of tulips to the Canadian infantry soldier, who is happy to see a friendly face. In the engraved background, a small crowd has gathered to cheer and wave at the Canadians as they travel along a canal street. The top features a repeating “V” for Victory in Morse code above the words “CANADA 10 DOLLARS”. The obverse features the effigy of King George VI by T. H. Paget and a Victory privy mark,” stated the Royal Canadian Mint website. 

Features

THE TIES BETWEEN TWO NATIONS 

The coin is a celebration of the special friendship between Canada and the Netherlands and the close ties forged in the second world war.

CONTINUING FROM THE 2020 PROOF DOLLAR 

It appears the same soldier from the middle silhouette on the 2020 Proof Dollar. This design presents the Liberation of the Netherlands from the perspective of those who lived it. 

MORSE CODE 

The dots and dashes at the top of the reverse design is a repeating “V” for Victory in Morse code.

A VICTORY PRIVY MARK

This coin, together with all from our 2020, 75th Anniversary of V-E Day collection, features a distinctive privy mark that was inspired by the 1945 Victory nickel design. (An updated version of Canada’s historic 5-cent coin is available as part of the 2020 Proof Dollar Set.)

SELECTIVE COLOUR 

Selective colour adds warmth to the exchange between the soldier and the civilian. It conveys hope, relief, and new beginnings.

INSPIRED BY THE 2019 PROOF DOLLAR 

In contrast to the 2019 Proof Dollar, this Canadian soldier looks over his shoulder and smiles at the welcome he has received. He does not know it, but his homecoming is a not-so-distant possibility.

HISTORIC OBVERSE

Another collection-wide feature is the obverse design, which features the effigy of the reigning monarch in 1945.

Top Image: Left, the Royal Canadian Mint’s 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherland coin. Right, Dutch civilians and Canadian Army troops celebrating the Liberation. 7 May 1945 / Utrecht, Netherlands. Credit: Alexander M. Stirton/Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-134377.