250th ANNIVERSARY COIN & CHALLENGE COIN

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An important event in the history of the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada took place on 21 March 1972.  It received Armorial Bearings which were granted under Royal Authority by a legal instrument known as Letters Patent. On 15 July 2004 they were granted again by the Canadian Heraldic Authority. This year, in January 2026, the UELAC has produced two new collector coins.  The designs were suggested by the Promotions Committee  consisting of Linda Jobe, Chair, and members Ken Montgomery, and Rod Appleby.  One coin recognizes this year as the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution 1776 - 2026. On the other side is the Badge of the UELAC which is part of the Armorial Bearings.

250th Anniversary of American Revolution Coin


Badge

The badge consists of a wreath made up of red maple leaves with oak leaves as well as acorns. The maple leaves represent Canada while the oak leaves and acorns are a long held symbol of loyalty and fidelity to the monarchy. In the centre is the Cypher G III R, signifying Georgius Tertius Rex, the sovereign to whom the Loyalists gave their devotion and their service.

The second coin produced this year is a Challenge Coin with the Arms of the UELAC on one side and the Badge on the other.  

Coat of Arms
  • Arms (Shield): Blue (Azure), representing one of the royal colours, featuring a stylized St. Edward’s Royal Crown in the center. The crown is surrounded by an orle of thirteen small silver swords, with points outwards, representing the thirteen colonies and their defense of the Crown. At the base is an Indian tomahawk, pointing downwards, honoring the Mohawk Loyalists and their allies who fought under Chief Joseph Brant.
  • Crest: A dexter arm (right arm) in armor grasping a 1707 Union Flag.
  • Supporters: On the left, a settler of 1775, and on the right, a Mohawk warrior wearing a bracelet of honor.
  • Compartment: A mound of earth, symbolizing the new land, containing maple leaves and oak leaves, representing Canada and loyalty/fidelity, respectively.

Challenge Coin

The coins cost $20 each plus postage. To order email  promotions@uelac.org

How the Armorial Bearings of the UELAC were first obtained was explained in an article published in the Autumn 1972 issue of the Loyalist Gazette by Conrad Swan, York Herald-in-arms-in-ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen and Honorary Vice President, UELAC. He notes that in March, 1969 E. John Chard,  Acting Chief Administrative Officer of the UELAC and Past President discusssed with the York Herald Arms the possibility of a grant of Arms.  This was followed the next year in March, 1970 by a recommendation from the Governor General of Canada Roland Mitchener that a grant be made.  

On 13 June the Dominion Council of the UELAC agreed to make a formal application for a grant of Arms and this was done by means of a Memorial addressed to Her Majesty's Earl Marshall, the Duke of York,  from the President of the UELAC requesting that he issue his Warrant to the Kings of Arms for their granting Armorial Bearings to the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada.  It stated:

My Lord Duke, 

I have the honour to represent to Your Grace that by virtue of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1897, Chapter 172 the United Empire Loyalist Association of Ontario was incorporated by Letters Patent dated the First day of December 1897; 

That His Majesty King George V by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada on the Twenty-seventh day of May 1914 did create a body corporate and politic by the name of The United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada with authority to succeed to and take over all rights and property held by the said United Empire Loyalist Association of Ontario;

That the purposes of the said United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada are to unite together the descendants of those families who, during the American Revolutionary War of 1775 to 1783 sacrificed their homes in retaining their loyalty to the British Crown; to perpetuate this spirit of loyalty to the Empire; to collect together and to preserve the monuments, memorials, records and the like of the United Empire Loyalists; to publish historical and genealogical journals and to promote similar and germane activities; 

That the said United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada is governed by a central Council now commonly known as the Dominion Council;

That the said Dominion Council is desirous of having Armorial Bearings duly granted and assigned under legal authority,

I, therefore, on behalf of the Dominion Council as President of The United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada, have the honour to request the favour of Your Grace's Warrant to the Kings of Arms for their Granting and Assigning such Arms and Crest and such Device or Badge as they may consider fit and proper to be borne and used for ever hereafter by The United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada on Seals or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms. 

 I have the honour to be, My Lord Duke, Your Grace’s most obedient servant,

Arthur David Michael Spohn 


Further Reference:

Swan, Conrad, The Armorial Bearings of the UELAC , Loyalist Gazette, Vol. X, No. 2, Autumn, 1972 

Loyal Then Loyal Now article by Brian McConnell, UE, published in 2018


Historian & Author; Member of United Empire Loyalists ' Association of Canada, Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia, Ontario Genealogical Society, Ulster Historical & Genealogical Guild (Life)

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