Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (2000–2025) - Pure Gold Coin – Mintage: 1,500 (2025)

A tribute to Canada’s Unknown Soldier, from the artist who designed his final resting place. Order today!

A nameless soldier, an unknown past, a timeless legacy. Since its inauguration in 2000, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the National War Memorial in Ottawa has served as a focal point for Canadians as they gather to reflect upon the valiant heroes who laid down their lives, and those who continue to fight for peace and freedoms on our behalf.

A companion piece to the 2025 Fine Silver Proof Dollar, this 99.99% pure gold coin pays tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on its reverse. Framed by a poppy shape, the close-up view of the Tomb is a familiar one to the coin artist, Mary-Ann Liu, who designed its sculptural elements. Now, 25 years later (2025), she is once again paying her respects to Canada’s Unknown Soldier, who, even in death, serves his country by silently representing every Canadian lost to war.

Join us in honouring Canada’s Unknown Soldier. Order today!

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Join us in paying respect to Canada’s Unknown Soldier. This 99.99% pure gold coin is a companion piece to the 2025 Fine Silver Proof Dollar, which features a Remembrance theme in honour of the 25th anniversary of the completion of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
• From the artist who designed the Tomb in Ottawa. Mary-Ann Liu is the B.C.-based artist who designed the relief sculpture adorning the Tomb, which was completed and inaugurated 25 years ago. This is her first collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mint.
• Same font used for the Tomb. On your coin, the words “CANADA” and “2025” are engraved in the same font that is etched on the granite Tomb in Ottawa.
• Low mintage. Crafted in 99.99% pure gold, this tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is limited to just 1,500 coins worldwide—a very low mintage!
• For the love of the hobby. For the love of history. A must-have for many collectors, the 2025 Tomb of the Unknown Soldier coins carry additional meaning for Canadians who serve and have served this country, for their friends and loved ones, and for historians and history enthusiasts.
• Includes serialized certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins.
• No GST/HST.

DESIGN

The coin’s reverse commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario, through a design by Canadian sculptor Mary-Ann Liu—the same artist who designed the Tomb’s bronze sculptural elements, based on the symbolic tomb at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. The reverse design features a close-up view of the Crusader’s Sword and First World War-era helmet overlapped with maple leaves. The outer rim is rounded but the inner rim is symbolically shaped like a poppy, the universally recognized flower of Remembrance, while the words “CANADA” and “2025” appear in the same font used for the Tomb. The obverse features the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Canadian action at Vimy Ridge features prominently in our history books for good reason. It marked the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together. Over four fateful days in April 1917, the Canadians and our Allies succeeded in taking Vimy Ridge. For this reason, Canada’s Unknown Soldier was selected from among the many unknown Canadian soldiers buried near Vimy Ridge. Additionally, Mary-Ann Liu’s design for the Tomb in Ottawa was inspired by the symbolic stone-carved tomb at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.

PACKAGING

Your coin is encapsulated and presented in a black Royal Canadian Mint-branded clamshell with a black beauty box.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The Artist:

“How does one capture the awe-inspiring grandeur and dignity of a granite-and-bronze monument on a coin-sized canvas? That was the biggest challenge with this coin. When designing the Tomb 25 years ago, the word ‘passage’ mattered a lot. The passage of time, the passage between life and death, and the experiences that alter life’s journeys. It still matters today, on this coin, where the Tomb’s emotional impact is best conveyed by a close-up view, while the poppy outline pays homage to our fallen veterans. The rich interplay of textures and the visual transition from rough stone to the smooth bronze relief are equally important, helped by strong lines that truly reflect my original manifestation of the concept for this solemn memorial.” — Mary-Ann Liu, Artist

The Expert:

“The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is not just a monument; it is a symbol of the countless sacrifices made by Canadians in service to our country. As someone who was deeply involved in its creation, it is incredibly meaningful to see this 25th anniversary coin as a testament to those who served. This coin reflects the ongoing commitment of our nation to remember and honour all who fought for our freedoms, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.” –  Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Duane Daly, Past Dominion Secretary, The Royal Canadian Legion

The Product Manager:

“The sculpture of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was created by Mary-Ann Liu, a well-known Canadian artist, and her agreeing to be part of this project was a high point for us. She was part of its construction 25 years ago, which gives her a unique perspective, and was delighted to be part of memorializing the Tomb’s 25th anniversary with a coin design. It was a first for her, and it was my honour and absolute pleasure to work with her to bring her artistic vision to life.” — Suzanne Kasnakian, Product Manager

The Engraver:

“Every coin presents its own challenges to sculpt, but as we move to the small diameter coins the challenges are multiplied. The relief we have at our disposal is reduced to less than half of what we would have at a 38 mm format—that makes creating volume in the helmet and leaves incredibly difficult to represent properly. I love the close-up the artist used, and the poppy motif border is brilliant!

It is always an honour to work on a project of Canadian military history or remembrance, but to contribute to this project of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier anniversary is on the same level as Vimy Ridge. It is of higher significance. The importance of sculpting this right weighed heavily on me, and it was a privilege to have this opportunity to honour those Canadians represented by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” — Matt Bowen, Engraver