Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal

Context

The Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal commemorates the 25th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second to the throne. National organizations in every important field of endeavour — including the professions, education and arts, veterans' groups, sports associations, philanthropic and charitable bodies, and welfare services — were asked to participate in submitting nominations. All members of the Order of Canada, Order of Military Merit, and recipients of the Canadian Bravery Decorations received the Queen’s Silver Jubilee medal. This medal is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall.

Eligibility and criteria

Selection criterion for members of the Canadian Forces was based on merit, with length of service and prestige of current appointment as secondary consideration. This medal program is now closed.

Description

The circular silver medal, 1.25 inches (32 mm) in diameter, has a thin, smooth raised rim.

On the obverse, Queen Elizabeth II, facing right, wearing the high Imperial State Crown. The inscription around the rim reads “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF”.

On the reverse, a large stylized maple leaf with “CANADA” around the top rim and “1952 EIIR 1977” in small lettering around the bottom of the rim. The “EIIR” has a small crown on top. In very small letters above and between the “EIIR” and “1977” is the word “HUNT” (for the designer of the medal Dora de Pedery-Hunt).

A 0.5 inch (12 mm) silver ring, which holds the ribbon, passes through a small hollow ball at the top of a claw joined to the top of the medal.

The ribbon has a watered white colour (representing the silver), with cardinal red edge stripes. The middle is garter blue, with a cardinal strip running through its centre. This ribbon is identical to its British counterpart and is a variation of the 1953 Coronation Medal ribbon.

Bar(s)

There is no bar to this medal.

Wearing

The medal shall be worn in sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive, and in the following manner: on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above, after the Canadian Centennial medal and before the 125th Anniversary medal.

Post-nominals

The use of a post-nominal is not authorized for this medal.

Historical notes

There were 30,000 issued, of which 7,000 were awarded to members of the Canadian Forces.

The obverse of the medal is similar to the British issue and the Canadian reverse was designed by Canadian artist Dora de Pedery-Hunt.