Dei Gratia Regina

Drawing of a Canadian 50-cent piece from 1871 bearing the portrait of Queen Victoria

Dei Gratia Regina (often abbreviated to D. G. Regina and seen as D·G·REGINA) is Latin for By the Grace of God, Queen. This phrase appears on the obverse of all Canadian coins to the right of the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. ^[1] This is not to be confused with "D. G. REG. F. D." standing for Dei gratia regina fidei defensor which appears on British coins.

Exceptions include a commemorative Canadian 10-cent piece from 2001, and a series of 25-cent pieces commemorating the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, where the phrase is omitted from the coins' obverse for space reasons.

History

Coins minted from 1902 until 1910 under King Edward VII read "D. G. Rex Imperator" which is Latin for "By the Grace of God, King and Emperor". The "Dei Gra" portion was removed temporarily from Canadian coinage in 1911 and led to such a public uproar over the "godless" coins, that it was returned to Canadian coinage in the subsequent year. From 1912 to 1936, under George V, it read "Dei Gra Rex Et Ind Imp" which stands for Dei Gratia Rex et Indiae Imperator which means "By the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India". From 1937 to 1947 under the reign of George VI, it read either "Dei Gra Rex Et Ind Imp" as before or was abbreviated "D. G. Rex Et Ind Imp". From 1947 to 1952, still under George VI, after the condeferation of India, they read "Dei Gratia Rex". From 1952 until 1964, it read "Dei Gratia Regina" under Queen Elizabeth II. From 1965 onwards, it was abbreviated on all coins to the current phrase of "D. G. Regina".^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Faces of the monarch". www.mint.ca. http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/faces-of-the-monarch-1100026. Retrieved 1 June 2011.