ONE NEW 2019 D-DAY toonie COLOURED.
The coin commemorates the 75th anniversary of D-Day and features a selective colour accent.
The Liberal cabinet approved the design of the new toonies, one of which will have multiple colours instead of the usual two-toned coin, to commemorate a key turning point in the Second World War.
On June 6, 1944 a combined force of about 150,000 Allied troops, made up of largely of Canadian, American and British soldiers, stormed the beaches on France’s Normandy coast, coming up against Nazi troops in concrete fortified gun positions.
About 14,000 Canadians were involved in the assault, known as Operation Overlord. Canada also contributed some 110 ships and 15 fighter and bomber squadrons.
On D-Day, 359 Canadians died as they ran from boats onto Juno Beach and more than 1,000 were injured.
The invasion marked the start of months of fighting to free France from Nazi occupation and would eventually lead to victory in Europe.
The government order says the D-Day toonies will have an image of four soldiers and one sailor, all wearing helmets and one holding a rifle, in a landing craft at Juno Beach.
The helmet of the middle soldier will be olive green on the coloured toonie.
There will also be renderings of a Canadian destroyer, barrage balloon and Spitfire fighter planes.
The terms “D-Day” and “Remember,” along with the French “Le Jour J” and “Souvenir” will be inscribed around the coins.