Description
The 2013 25-cent circulation coin commemorating the heroes of the War of 1812 features the Hero of Châteauguay; Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel de Salaberry. 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 Design:
The coin features Charles de Salaberry set against an engraved background featuring the bilingual text "The War of 1812 / La guerre de 1812." The background is horizontally bisected by a silver band featuring the embossed word "de Salaberry" in cursive lettering. Beneath the band is the engraved and painted Government of Canada War of 1812 logo, composed of the date "1812" in stylized script over a red stylized maple leaf with ecru swords crossing behind it.
