The late 1930s were a time of tumult for the British monarchy. King George V's silver jubilee year, 1935, ended sadly when he fell gravely ill. He passed away in January 1936. His son Edward VIII's ascension was short-lived: Edward abdicated later that year, leaving his brother, George VI, to take the throne. These shifts in leadership meant that mints across the British Empire had to make ongoing changes to coinage in collaboration with the Royal Mint in London—a time-consuming task in this era. As matters at Windsor Castle calmed in 1938, the Government of Canada, unable to issue a commemorative coin in time for George VI's 1937 coronation, decided to celebrate His Majesty's planned royal visit in 1939—the first of its kind on Canadian soil—and thus this commemorative silver dollar was born.
Specifications
No. 162442
Mintage 4,000
Composition 99.99% pure silver
Finish proof with selective gold plating
Weight (g) 62.69
Diameter (mm) 50
Edge serrated
Certificate serialized
Face value 1 dollar
Artist Emanuel Hahn (reverse), Humphrey Paget (obverse)