Behind the Design: The Supreme Court of Canada Commemorative $1 Circulation Coin
- Apr 08, 2025
- Canadiana
- 2 minute read
Discover the design details behind our first commemorative circulation coin of 2025—a shining tribute to the Supreme Court of Canada on its 150th anniversary.
Designed by Kingston, Ontario-based artist Silvia Pecota, the reverse design of the coin features one of Canada’s most important institutions: the Supreme Court of Canada, with its building, adorned with the Court’s 150th commemoration logo in the foreground. The intricate elements enriching the coin tell the story of the Court’s unwavering dedication to the rule of law, and its service to all Canadians—past, present, and future.
Keep reading to delve even deeper into the Supreme Court of Canada $1 coin design.
Discover the design details behind our first commemorative circulation coin of 2025—a shining tribute to the Supreme Court of Canada on its 150th anniversary.
Designed by Kingston, Ontario-based artist Silvia Pecota, the reverse design of the coin features one of Canada’s most important institutions: the Supreme Court of Canada, with its building, adorned with the Court’s 150th commemoration logo in the foreground. The intricate elements enriching the coin tell the story of the Court’s unwavering dedication to the rule of law, and its service to all Canadians—past, present, and future.
Keep reading to delve even deeper into the Supreme Court of Canada $1 coin design.
Supreme Court of Canada Building
The home of the Supreme Court of Canada is located just west of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Designed by Ernest Cormier, construction began in 1939. Due to the Second World War, it wasn’t until 1946 that the Court took possession of the building and heard its first case there. Today, it is not only a place of legal importance; the building is a symbol of Canada's commitment to justice and serving Canadians.
Justitia and Veritas
Two bronze statues stand outside the Supreme Court of Canada building, Justitia and Veritas (Latin for ‘Justice and Truth’). The statues were created by Walter S. Allward, the same artist who designed and sculpted the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. Stored and forgotten for almost 50 years, the statues were only installed in their current location in 1970.
Commemorative Logo
The Supreme Court of Canada’s 150th commemorative logo is derived from the Court’s historic badge known as the Cormier Emblem which, like the Supreme Court of Canada building itself, was created by Montréal architect Ernest Cormier. Here are what the elements of the logo express:
- Laurels: Signify growth, with new leaves symbolizing the Court’s continuous development and expansion into future generations. The nine laurel leaves represent the nine judges of the Supreme Court of Canada.
- Double dates (“1875 – 2025”): Commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Court’s creation. The Supreme Court of Canada was officially established as the highest court in the country when it was enshrined by the Supreme Court Act, 1875.
- Interwoven “150” numerals: Symbolize the dualities of bijuralism and bilingualism (the Court hears and decides cases from Canada’s two legal traditions and in both official languages) that make Canada’s top court the only bilingual and bijural apex court in the world. The shapes of the numbers reflect both the Court’s crest and its heraldic traditions.
An Emblem of Justice: Learn more about the 2025 commemorative circulation coin honouring the Supreme Court of Canada’s 150 years of history and legacy, as well as its continuing contributions to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all Canadians.
The Supreme Court of Canada licensed material is used courtesy of the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada.