Celebrating Victoria Day with Vintage Canadian Coins
May 18, 2026
She was more than just a queen. She defined an era, rewrote the book on British monarchies, and left an imprint on nations around the world.
We’re talking about Queen Victoria, who was born May 24, 1819, and sat upon the throne as the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837, until she passed away on January 22, 1901, at the age of 81. Queen Victoria oversaw the rapid expansion of the British Empire throughout the latter half of the 19th century. She also helmed the unification of Britain’s provinces of the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, as the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.
Queen Victoria is therefore fittingly known as the “Mother of Confederation” in Canada, where a holiday known as Victoria Day has been celebrated since 1845. Originally, the holiday was observed on the queen’s birthday, May 24. However, over the years the holiday has floated around the latter squares of the May calendar, occurring on the last Monday prior to May 25. This means that Victoria Day is celebrated each year sometime between May 18 and May 24.
From PCGS