On June 26th, 2024, at Green Gables in Cavendish, PEI, with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as special presiding guest, Brenda Jones’s winning coin (design) of Montgomery and Anne was launched.  Montgomery is the first artist to appear in Canada on a circulation coin: a fitting tribute in this 150th birthday year. Here I (in white) am speaking with artist Brenda Jones (daughter of Green Gables’ own Pauline Webb Jones) while Dr. Kate Scarth (UPEI/LMMI Chair in L.M. Montgomery Studies) and UPEI Vice-President, Academic and Research, Dr. Greg Naterer, stand in front of a replica of the new coin.

Brenda Jones designed a beautiful illustration for the Royal Canadian Mint’s tribute for Montgomery’s 150th birthday: a one-dollar circulation coin, featuring Montgomery dreaming up Anne, with a glimpse of colourful PEI landscape beyond. I was a consultant on the various texts for the image. Click on the coin below to go to the Royal Canadian Mint website to learn more.

Notice the details of the coin: Montgomery’s pen, her famous cat-image signature.  The “BJ” identify the artist.  This is also the very first Canadian circulation coin to bear the image of King Charles III.  Thanks to the Heirs of L.M. Montgomery, Inc. for including me as a consultant for this Royal Canadian Mint project.

– Betsy