Day 1169

Queen Elizabeth II has been the monarch of the United Kingdom (and hence Canada) since 1952. I think this 1945 King George VI penny is the first Canadian coin I've ever seen without her face on it. (Side note: Canada stopped producing pennies in 2012.)

"D:G:REX ET IND:IMP:" is a Latin abbreviation of "By the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India", itself an abbreviation of "By the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India", the full title of the Canadian monarch in 1945. India gained independence from Britain in 1947, and, although George VI didn't proclaim that "Emperor of India" should be removed from his title until midway through 1948, the Royal Canadian Mint decided not to produce any 1948 coins with "IND:IMP" on them. Instead, while waiting for the Royal Mint in London to send updated dies bearing the India-less inscription "DEI GRATIA REX" (By the Grace of God, King), the Canadians continued to mint 1947-dated "IND:IMP" coins well into 1948, with a tiny maple leaf added next to the year to distinguish them from coins actually created in 1947.