A new commemorative medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60
th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, it serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.
During the year of celebrations, 60 000 deserving Canadians from across the country and various walks of life will be recognized.
The Chancellery of Honours, as part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, administers the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal program.
Sounds lovely--until you get down to the part where the coin's composition is described. It's made of "nickel silver", which I had to look up. It is an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc.
"Congratulations on your service to Canada. To show our esteem, we present you this medallion worth 30 cents."
