2012 - Bicentennial of the War of 1812

2012
Bicentennial of the War of 1812
The War of 1812 marks an important part of Canadian history in the country's evolution from colony to sovereign nation.

This was between Britain and the United States, was a fundamental turning point in Canada’s history, a struggle from which some of Canada’s earliest unifying moments emerged. These stories - including that of the Leda-class frigate, HMS Shannon - have become important chapters in the narrative of Canada.

The $2 circulation coin has an image of the British frigate HMS Shannon - to signify the historic capture of the American USS Chesapeake off the coast of Boston in 1813 by HMS Shannon. The defeated warship and her crew were escorted to Halifax, Nova Scotia where the sailors were imprisoned. The damaged ship was repaired and taken into service by the Royal Navy and was later re-named and re-commissioned into the British Navy.

The Royal Canadian Mint released the HMS Shannon $2 coin on June 18, 2012 to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.


Four new 25-cent coins will also be released in 2012-2013, as part of the series, commemorating 200 years since the U.S. declared war on Great Britain.