Dei Gratia Regina

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Two British Pennies from 1945 (George VI) and 1926 (George V). Note the inscription for George V reads GEORGIVS VDEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REX FID:DEF:IND:IMP: while George VI reads GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.)
Two British Pennies from 1945 (George VI) and 1926 (George V). Note the inscription for George V reads GEORGIVS VDEI GRA:BRITT:OMN:REX FID:DEF:IND:IMP: while George VI reads GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX F:D:IND:IMP.)

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. This is not to be confused with "D. G. REG. F. D." standing for Dei gratia regina fidei defensor which appears on the back of 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 (releases starting in 2007), where the phrase is omitted from the coins' obverse for space reasons.

[edit] 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". From 1911 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 1964 onwards, it was abbreviated on all coins to the current phrase of "D. G. Regina".