Coins and Canada - Heroes of the War of 1812

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Heroes of the War of 1812

By thecanadiannumismatist | Tuesday, 1 October 2024

The War of 1812 paved the way for Confederation. It was the fight for Canada and a defining moment in our country's history that saw British regular forces, English and French-speaking militia, First Nations and Métis allies join together to defend the borders. Without their courage and sacrifice, Canada as we know it would not exist.

To commemorate this event, the Royal Canadian Mint issued four circulating coins and several collector coins about key historical figures who influenced the fight for Canada from 1812 to 1814.

In all, 12.5 million of each of these commemorative circulation coins have been produced in two distinct finishes: half of them feature a coloured War of 1812 logo, while the remaining coins have a frosted portrait while the War of 1812 logo remains unpainted.

Isaac Brock

On October 12, 2012, the eve of the 200th anniversary of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock's death on the battlefield at Queenston Heights, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, unveiled a Royal Canadian Mint circulation coin honouring his memory as a hero of the War of 1812.

Honouring the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 with this special circulation coin pays tribute to one of our greatest national heroes and a crucial moment on the road to Confederation.
Our Government encourages Canadians to take this unprecedented opportunity to learn more about our heroes and history and to take pride in our traditions by collecting this new circulation coin dedicated to War of 1812 hero Major-General Sir Isaac Brock.

- Rob Nicholson

The reverse image of this 25-cent circulation coin features a profile portrait of Major-General Brock, designed by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross, against an intricately engraved background comprised of the words The War of 1812 in both English and French. Featured in the design is the Government of Canada War of 1812 logo, composed of stylistic 1812 typography encompassed by a stylized maple leaf with ecru swords crossing behind it.

The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, as well as the Government of Canada's official commemorative symbol for the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812.

As Canadians far and wide marked the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, this historical turning point was a reminder of the heroic figures whose brave acts assured the defense of a future Canada. One of the most celebrated was Major-General Sir Isaac Brock. Dubbed The Hero of Upper Canada, he was a distinguished British Army commander who led the successful defense of the province early in the War of 1812.

Appointed commander of military forces in 1810, he organized the militia and prepared Canada for possible war with the United States. Following the outbreak of war and the forging of a crucial alliance with Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, Major-General Brock led the daring capture of Fort Detroit, securing the western frontier and boosting the morale of Upper Canadians. His death on October 13, 1812, while attempting to recapture Queenston Heights, has made Sir Isaac Brock a national hero and an enduring symbol of bravery and patriotism for successive generations of Canadians.

The Royal Canadian Mint is committed to preserving memories of the people, places and events which tell the story of the Canadian experience and the remembrance of the heroes of the War of 1812 is a wonderful way to celebrate our proud values.
The name of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock is synonymous with the heroic deeds of our forefathers who valiantly defended Canada 200 years ago and the Mint is delighted to have issued a 25-cent circulation coin in honour of this legendary hero of the War of 1812, for Canadians to collect and admire.

- Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint

This coin was nominated as Most Historically Significant Coin at the 2014 Coin of the Year by Krause Publications.

Specifications

Composition: Copper-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel)
Weight: 4.4 g
Diameter: 23.88 mm
Edge: Reeded
Thickness: 1.58 mm
Axis: ↑↑

25 cents 2012 prices and values

Collector Coins

Numismatic products have also been produced.

$4 face value 99.99% pure silver coin featuring a portrait of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, set against an intricately engraved background consisting of the bilingual text The War of 1812/La guerre de 1812. This coin is emblazoned by the engraved and painted Government of Canada War of 1812 logo. Limited to a mintage of 10,000 examples world-wide, this coin retailed for $49.95.
99.99% gold 1 kilo coins (mintage: 20).
99.99% silver 1 kilo coins (mintage: 1,000).

Tokens

During the war, private tokens began circulating in great quantity in British North America due to a severe currency shortage caused by increased commercial activity, and to an initial distrust of the series of paper notes known as army bills issued by Brock. As a consequence, individual merchants ordered large supplies of copper tokens from commercial mints in Birmingham, England.

After Brock's death, a series of halfpenny tokens recognizing him as The Hero of Upper Canada were put into circulation by an unknown issuer. The piece shown is dated 1816 and depicts two cherubs placing a laurel wreath on a funeral urn.

Sir Isaac Brook - 1/2 penny 1816

Tecumesh

On November 16, 2012, the bravery of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812, which made him one of the war's most well-known heroes, and his likeness was featured on a 25-cent circulation coin which was unveiled at the Barracks at Fort Malden National Historic site.

Over the course of the War of 1812, Tecumseh led over 2,000 warriors and fought at the sieges of Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson. Tecumseh's support for Major-General Sir Isaac Brock at the capture of Detroit was decisive though he ultimately fell at the Battle of the Thames at Chatham, Ontario in 1813.

Canada could not have been defended without the dedication of all the forces united against American invasion and our Government is pleased to commemorate Tecumseh, whose legendary role in the War of 1812 is a testament to the bravery and the loyalty of all First Nations and Métis people involved in that historic conflict.

- Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex

The reverse image of this 25-cent circulation coin features a profile portrait of Tecumseh, designed by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross, against an intricately engraved background comprised of the words The War of 1812 in both English and French. Featured in the design is the stylized maple leaf from the Government of Canada War of 1812 logo, on which 1812 appears in antique script.

As Canadians marked the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, this historical turning point was a reminder of the heroic figures whose brave acts assured the defense of a future Canada. One of the most renowned was Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, a fearless warrior and an inspiring leader.

Tecumseh was born near Springfield, Ohio in 1768. Throughout the 1790s, Tecumseh was deeply involved in war against American forces seeking to conquer First Nations land.

The outbreak of the War of 1812 drove Tecumseh to collaborate with the British to resist the American invasion of British North America. He was an important ally and co-leader with Upper Canadian military commander Major-General Sir Isaac Brock in the Battle of Detroit, where Brock's troops were joined by 800 First Nations warriors.

The American surrender was partly due to Brock and Tecumseh's skillful use of the warriors' fearsome reputation to intimidate the Americans. In the spring of 1813, Tecumseh went on to lead more than 1,200 warriors alongside 900 British soldiers under Major-General Henry Procter in taking Fort Meigs near Perrysburg, Ohio.

Ongoing fighting, however, eroded the resolve of British troops and many First Nations allies. In this weakened state, the allies met the Americans at what would be Tecumseh's final battle at Moraviantown (also known as the Battle of the Thames) on October 5, 1813. When the British troops retreated in the face of more than 3,000 American soldiers, only 500 warriors were left to fight. Tecumseh was one of many who fell that day.

The Royal Canadian Mint is committed to preserving memories of the people, places and events which tell the story of the Canadian experience and the remembrance of the heroes of the War of 1812, including Tecumseh, is a unique way to celebrate our proud values.

- Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint

Specifications

Composition: Copper-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel)
Weight: 4.4 g
Diameter: 23.88 mm
Edge: Reeded
Thickness: 1.58 mm
Axis: ↑↑

25 cents 2012 prices and values

Collector Coins

Numismatic products have also been produced.

10,000 $4 fine silver coin enhanced by a painted maple leaf from the Government of Canada's official War of 1812 logo honouring Tecumseh, the Shawnee Chief whose alliance with Major-General Brock ensured a number of early victories against American forces, before meeting his own tragic end at the Battle of the Thames in 1813.

Charles de Salaberry

On March 15, 2013, the Royal Canadian Mint honoured the Hero of Châteauguay; Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry on its 25-cent circulation coin commemorating the heroes of the War of 1812, unveiled by Mr. Guy Dancosse of the Royal Canadian Mint Board of Directors and Mr. Guy Vadeboncoeur, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Stewart Museum at the Stewart Museum in Montreal, Quebec.

Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry served as an officer of the British army in Lower Canada (now Quebec). As war loomed in the spring of 1812, he helped raise a unit of militia corps, known as the Canadian Voltigeurs, from among his primarily French Canadian compatriots. These new forces would help defend Lower Canada against the imminent attack.

He is best known for the Battle of Châteauguay in October of 1813, where about 1,700 Canadians helped repel around 3,000 American troops and Montreal was saved from a large-scale attack.

The Royal Canadian Mint is committed to preserving memories of the people, places and events which tell the story of the Canadian experience and the remembrance of the heroes of the War of 1812 is a wonderful way to celebrate our proud values.
Lieutenant Colonel de Salaberry and his Voltigeurs militia loom large among the many heroes who valiantly defended Canada 200 years ago and the Mint is delighted to have issued a special 25-cent circulation coin which allows Canadians to learn more about their importance to our history as they discover and collect this new coin.

- Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint

One of the most celebrated of the War of 1812 was Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry.Dubbed The Hero of Châteauguay, he was a distinguished British Army commander whose leadership of the legendary Voltigeurs French Canadian Militia ensured the successful defense of Montreal and all of Lower Canada (now Quebec) from 1812 to 1814.

Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry was born in 1778 in Beauport, Lower Canada, to a prominent family of Royal Army officers. De Salaberry enlisted in the 44th Foot Regiment at age 14 and served primarily in the Caribbean, Ireland, and the Netherlands before returning to Lower Canada in 1810 as a brevet-major. With war between the United States and Britain close at hand, he formed a militia to help defend Lower Canada. His group of Colonial regulars, the Voltigeurs Canadiens, was a light infantry unit that would become one of the most successful and well-known units to fight in the War of 1812.

Lieutenant Colonel de Salaberry vaulted into history at the Battle of Châteauguay in October 1813, when he and his outnumbered Voltigeurs forced thousands of American forces attempting to capture the city of Montreal to retreat. This was the first of several victories that prevented American plans to take Montreal; including Crysler's Farm in November 1813, and at Lacolle Mills in March 1814. After the end of hostilities, de Salaberry went on to serve in the Legislature of Lower Canada and he died in Chambly in 1829.

The reverse image of the 25-cent circulation coin features a portrait of Lieutenant Colonel de Salaberry, designed by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross, against an intricately engraved background comprised of the words The War of 1812 in both English and French. Featured in the design is the stylized maple leaf from the Government of Canada War of 1812 logo, on which 1812 appears in antique script.

Specifications

Composition: Copper-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel)
Weight: 4.4 g
Diameter: 23.88 mm
Edge: Reeded
Thickness: 1.58 mm
Axis: ↑↑

25 cents 2013 prices and values

Collector Coins

Numismatic products have also been produced.

Fine silver $4 Heroes of the War of 1812 honouring Charles de Salaberry.
$250 face-value 99.99% fine silver coin featuring a reproduction of the illustration Bataille de Chateauguay by celebrated Canadian artist Henri Julien (1852-1908) and with a limited mintage of only 500.
$2500 face-value 99.99% fine gold coin also features Julien's illustration as well as a section of the mural Climax of Action at Crysler's Farm by Adam Sherriff-Scott (1887-1980) with a mintage of 15 coins worldwide.

Laura Secord

On June 21, 2023, around 200 years after Laura Secord's historic nocturnal walk through the woods and fields near Queenston, Upper Canada to warn British forces of a planned American attack, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled a new circulation coin honouring her memory as a hero of the War of 1812.

Honouring the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 with this special circulation coin pays tribute to one of our greatest national heroes and reminds us that women and men of all backgrounds played instrumental roles on the road to Confederation.
Our Government encourages Canadians to take this unprecedented opportunity to learn more about our heroes and history and to take pride in our traditions by collecting this new circulation coin dedicated to War of 1812 hero Laura Secord.

- Rob Nicholson

The reverse image of this 25-cent circulation coin features a profile portrait of Laura Secord, designed by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross, against a background comprised of the words The War of 1812 in both English and French. Featured in the design is the stylized maple leaf from the Government of Canada War of 1812 logo, on which 1812 appears in antique script.

As Canadians far and wide marked the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, this historical turning point was a reminder of the heroic figures whose brave acts assured the defence of a future Canada. One of the most legendary figures of that conflict was heroine Laura Secord, whose night time trek to warn British troops of an impending American attack at Beaver Dams is forever remembered as an act of courage and loyalty to the troops engaged in the successful defense of Canadian territory in the War of 1812.

Laura Secord's journey into legend began when her Late Loyalist father Thomas Ingersoll moved his family from Massachusetts to the township of Queenston in 1795. She later married merchant James Secord, who became a sergeant in the local militia. He served under Major-General Sir Isaac Brock and was seriously wounded in the famous Battle of Queenston Heights in October 1812.

On June 20 or 21, of 1813, Laura overheard American officers discussing their intention to ambush a British outpost near Beaver Dams and capture its commanding officer, Lieutenant James FitzGibbon. With her husband still recovering from his battle injuries, Laura set out on foot early the next morning to warn Lieutenant FitzGibbon who was over 30 kilometres away. She successfully delivered her message first to about 400 First Nations warriors, then FitzGibbon. On June 24, 1813, American forces confident of capturing Beaver Dams were ambushed by the First Nations Warriors. FitzGibbon's 50 British soldiers arrived in time to accept the American surrender.

Laura Secord only received public recognition in 1860, when the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) visited Upper Canada and learned of Secord's journey. Upon his return to England, he sent Secord a reward of £100 and publicly lauded her contribution as a war hero. After helping defend future Canadian territory so many years earlier, she died a revered citizen of a newly founded Canada in 1868 at the age of 93.

The Royal Canadian Mint is committed to preserving memories of the people, places and events which tell the story of the Canadian experience and the remembrance of the heroes of the War of 1812 is a wonderful way to celebrate our proud values.
Laura Secord is celebrated as a hero of the War of 1812 for valiantly supporting our troops in a spirit which survives to this day and the Mint is delighted to have issued a 25-cent circulation coin which Canadians can collect in celebration of her nation-building achievement.

- Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint

Specifications

Composition: Copper-plated steel (94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel)
Weight: 4.4 g
Diameter: 23.88 mm
Edge: Reeded
Thickness: 1.58 mm
Axis: ↑↑

25 cents 2013 prices and values

Collector Coins

Numismatic products have also been produced.

A $4 face-value, Heroes of 1812 - Laura Secord 99.99% fine silver coin set against a background consisting of the bilingual text The War of 1812/La guerre de 1812. This coin is also emblazoned by the engraved and painted Government of Canada War of 1812 logo. Limited to a mintage of 10,000 examples, this coin retailed for $49.95 CDN.

A Commemorative Gift Set and a Special Edition Uncirculated Set featuring all five coins (including the 2 dollars 2012 HMS Shannon) from the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 circulation coin series were also offered.