This 2015 $20 fine silver coin pays tribute to Sir George-Etienne Cartier, one of the most influential and important of our Fathers of Confederation. He is often considered the kingpin of Confederation, credited for bringing French Canada, Manitoba and British Columbia into the Dominion. Mintage is limited to 8,500. GST/HST exempt.

The Design:

Cartier is presented on the coin directly facing the viewer, bringing life to the gaze of this powerful figure in Canadian political history. In the background behind him we see part of the facade of Province House in Charlottetown, in which the 1864 Charlottetown Conference took place. The engraved circle framing this inner portrait is finely decorated with stylized maple leaves of varying sizes flanking its left and right sides.

George-Étienne Cartier:
French-Canadian lawyer George-Étienne Cartier was one of the most important political figures of Confederation and a key influencer of French-Canadian support for Canadian union.  Cartier played the leading role in 1866 in introducing, the Civil Code in what is now Quebec–a Code which continues to define that province's distinct legal system.

George-Étienne Cartier co-premiered the Province of Canada with John A. Macdonald from 1857-58 and 1858-62. Cartier was an early and ardent supporter of the notion of Canadian Confederation. Along with John A. Macdonald, he became one of the key figures to lead the colonies' definition of the terms of union.

Cartier played a key role in bringing western Canada into Confederation, drafting both the Manitoba Act and British Columbia Act. He was also pivotal in laying the legislative framework for the Canadian Pacific Railway, which would be a major force in uniting Canada from sea to sea.