Commemorative Silver Coins of Canada

Canadian commemorative silver coins have been issued by the country’s Mint since 1935, when a coin was issued to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the reign of His Majesty King George V. Since then, many different commemorative coins with original designs have been produced, including for other countries. Modern commemorative silver coins “Maple Leaf” produced by the Canadian Royal Mint are distinguished by a stable purity of the material, since almost all coins have a sample of .9999.

Coins of 1 dollar denomination

One dollar denomination coin occupies a prominent place among the series of commemorative silver coins, issued by the Mint of Canada. Big number of different coins of this series were issued, many of them has numismatic value.

Characteristics of the Coin

• Issue of 1935−1970, metal .800 silver, weight is 23.33 g, diameter − 36 mm.
• Issue of 1971−1991, metal .500 silver and .500 copper, weight is 15.62 g, diameter − 36.07 mm.
• Issue of 1992−2002, metal .925 silver and .075 copper, weight is 25.175 g, diameter − 36.07 mm.
• Issue of 2003−2006, metal .9999 silver, weight is 25.175 g, diameter − 36.07 mm.
• Issue of 2007−2011 edition, metal .925 silver and .075 copper, weight is 25.175 g, diameter − 36.07 mm.
• Issue of 2012, metal .9999 silver, weight is 23.17 g, diameter − 35.9 mm.

Coin Description

On the obverse of the coins is always the image of the ruling monarch.

• Issue of 1935 – “Voyageur dollar” is dedicated to the silver jubilee of King George V. The reverse of the coin depicts a traveler and a representative of the indigenous people of Canada rowing in a canoe. Circulation 428 707.
• Issue of 1939 – “The Royal Visit” coin is dedicated to the visit of King George V to Ottawa. Circulation 1.363.816.
• Issue of 1949 − coin “Newfoundland Entry Into Confederation” coin. Circulation 672.218.
• Issue of 1958 − “Founding of the Colony of British Columbia” coin. Circulation 3039630.
• Issue of 1964 − the “Confederate Meetings” coin dedicated to the Quebec Conference of 1864, when the possibility of creating a Canadian Confederation was discussed. Circulation 7.296.832
• Issue of 1967 – “Canadian Centennial” coin. Circulation 6.767.496.
• Issue of 1971 – “British Columbia Centennial” coin. Circulation 585.217.
• Issue of 1973 − “The Royal Canadian Mountain Police Centennial” coin. Circulation 904.723.
• Issue of 1974 – “City of Winnipeg Centennial” coin. Circulation 628.183.
• Issue of 1975 –“City of Calgary Centennial” coin. Circulation 833.095.
• Issue of 1976 – “Library of Parliament Centennial” coin. Circulation 483.722.

• Issue of 1977 – “Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth I” coin. Circulation 744848.
• Issue of 1978 − “Commonwealth Games” coin. Circulation 640000.
• Issue of 1979 − “Griffon Tricentennial” coin is dedicated to the crew of pioneering researchers who disappeared in Lake Michigan. Circulation 688671.
• Issue of 1980 − “Arctic Territories Centennial” coin. Circulation 389564.
• Issue of 1981 – “Canadian Pacific Railway Centennial” coin. Circulation 353.742 (Proof), 14.8647 (BU).
• Issue of 1982 – “Regina Centennial” coin. Circulation 577.959 (Proof), 144.989 (BU).
• Issue of 1983 – “World University Games” coin. Circulation 340.068 (Proof), 159.450 (BU).
• Issue of 1984 − “Toronto Sesquicentennial” coin. Circulation 571.079 (Proof), 133.563 (BU).
• Issue of 1985 – “National Parks Centennial“ coin. Circulation 537.297 (Proof), 162.873 (BU).
• Issue of 1986 – “Vancouver Centennial” coin. Circulation 496.418 (Proof), 124.574 (BU).
• Issue of 1987 – “John Davis 400th Anniversary” coin. Circulation 405.688 (Proof), 118.722 (BU).
• Issue of 1988 − “Saint-Maurice Ironworks” coin. Circulation 259.230 (Proof), 106.702 (BU).
• Issue of 1989 − “Mackenzie River Bicentennial” coin. Circulation 272.319 (Proof), 110.650 (BU).
• Issue of 1990 – “Henry Kelsey Tricentennial” coin. Circulation 222.983 (Proof), 85.763 (BU).
• Issue of 1991 − “Frontenac”. Circulation 222.892 (Proof), 82.642 (BU).
• Issue of 1992 – “Kingston to York Stagecoach” coin. Circulation 187.612 (Proof), 78.160 (BU).
• Issue of 1993 − “Stanley Cup Centennial” coin. Circulation 294.214 (Proof), 88.150 (BU).
• Issue of 1994 – “The Royal Canadian Mountain Police Northern Dog Team” coin. Circulation 178.485 (Proof), 65.295 (BU).
• Issue of 1995 – “325th Anniversary Hudson’s Bay Company” coin. Circulation 166.259 (Proof), 61.819 (BU).
• Issue of 1996 – “John McIntosh, McIntosh Apple” coin is dedicated to farmer John McIntosh, who brought this famous McIntosh Red apple. Circulation 133.779 (Proof), 58.834 (BU).
• Issue of 1997 – “25th Anniversary of the Canada−Russia Summit Series” coin. Circulation 184.965 (Proof), 155.252 (BU).
• Issue of 1998 – “125th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mountain Police” coin. Circulation 130.795 (Proof), 81.376 (BU).
• Issue of 1999 − “225th Anniversary of the Voyage of Juan Perez” coin. Circulation 126.435 (Proof), 67.655 (BU).
• Issue of 2000 – “Voyage of Discovery” coin. Circulation 121.575 (Proof), 62.975 (BU).
• Issue of 2001 – “50th Anniversary of the National Ballet of Canada” coin. Circulation 89.390 (Proof), 53.668 (BU)
• Issue of 2001 – “90th Anniversary of the Striking of Canada’s 1911 Silver Dollar” coin. Circulation 24.996 (Proof).

• • Issue of 2002 – “Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II” coin. Circulation 29.688 (Proof), 64.410 (BU).
  • Issue of 2003 – “Discovery of Cobalt” coin. Circulation 88.536 (Proof), 51.130 (BU).
  • Issue of 2004 − “400th Anniversary, First French Settlement in North America” coin. Circulation 81.335 (Proof), 41.934 (BU).
  • Issue of 2005 – “40th Anniversary, Flag of Canada” coin. Circulation unknown.
  • Issue of 2006 – “Victoria Cross” coin is dedicated to the highest military award of Great Britain. Circulation unknown.
  • Issue of 2007 – “Thayendanegea Joseph Brant” coin is dedicated to the leader of the Mohawk tribe, officer of the British army. Circulation 35.000 (Proof), 65.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2008 − “Quebec City, 400th Anniversary & 1st French settlement in North America” coin. Circulation 35.000 (Proof), 65.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2009 − “100th Anniversary of flight in Canada” coin. Circulation 50.000 (Proof), 50.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2010 − “100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy”. Circulation 50.000 (Proof), 50.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2011 – “100th Anniversary of Parks Canada” coin. Circulation 40.000 (Proof), 25.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2012 − “200th Anniversary of the War of 1812”coin. Circulation 40.000 (Proof), 25.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2013 − “100th Anniversary of the Canadian Arctic Expedition” coin. Circulation 40.000 (Proof), 20.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2014 – “100th Anniversary – Declaration of the First World War” coin. Circulation 40.000 (Proof), 20.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2015 – “50th Anniversary of the Canadian Flag” coin. Circulation 20.000 (Proof), 15.000 (BU).
  • Issue of 2016 – “150th Anniversary of the Trans-Atlantic Cable” coin. Circulation 20.000 (Proof). (1 Dollar 2016 Canadian gold coin in our catalog)

Special edition proof silver dollars

• Issue of 1999 − “International Year of Older Persons” coin. Circulation 24.976.
• Issue of 2002 – “The Queen Mother” coin. Circulation 9.994.
• Issue of 2003 − “50th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II” (First Effigy of Queen). Circulation 214.000.
• Issue of 2003 − “50th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II” (Fourth Effigy of Queen). Circulation 29.586.
• Issue of 2004 – “400th Anniversary of the First French Settlement in North America” coin. Circulation 8.315.
• Issue of 2004 − “The Poppy” coin, dedicated to poppy cultivation in Canada. Circulation 24.527.
• Issue of 2006 – “Medal of Bravery” coin. Circulation unknown.
• Issue of 2007 − “Celebration of the Arts” coin. Circulation 20.000.
• Issue of 2008 − “100th Anniversary, Royal Canadian Mint” coin. Circulation 25.000.

• Issue of 2009 − “100th anniversary, Montreal Canadiens” coin. Circulation 15.000.
• Issue of 2010 − “75th Anniversary of Canada’s Voyager Silver Dollar”. Circulation 7.500.
• Issue of 2011 − “100th Anniversary of the striking of Canada’s 1911 Silver Dollar”. Circulation 15.000.
• Issue of 2012 − “100th Anniversary of the first Calgary Stampede” coin. Circulation 10.000.
• Issue of 2012 − “100th Anniversary of Grey Cup” coin. Circulation 10.000.
• Issue of 2013 − “250th Anniversary of the End of the Seven Years’ War” coin. Circulation 10.000.
• Issue of 2013 − “60th Anniversary of the End of the Korean War” coin. Circulation 10.000.
• Issue of 2014 − “75th Anniversary of the declaration of the Second World War” coin. Circulation 7.500.
• Issue of 2015 − “100th Anniversary of the poem “In Flanders Fields” coin. Circulation 10.000.

Silver cents

From 1908 to 1967, the Royal Canadian Mint issued silver coins of 10, 25 and 50 cents, containing up to 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Of these, the 1967 samples dedicated to the anniversary of the Canadian Confederation are considered memorable.

• 10 cents coin. The diameter − 18.03 mm, weight 2.33 g.
• 25 cents coin. The diameter − is 23.62 mm (1908−1952) and 23.88 mm (1953−1967). The weight is 5.81 g (1908−1910) and 5.82 g (1911−1967).
• 50 cents coin. The diameter − of 29.72 mm, weight 11.66 g.

Coins of the “Maple Leaf” series

Commemorative silver coins of one of the most popular series in the world have been produced from 1989 to the present, and their production requires pure silver of the highest standard. Coins are dedicated to various anniversaries of the series, as well as memorable events in Canadian history. In addition, the Canadian Mint produces memorable silver “Maple Leaves” by order of other countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China. For more information about the commemorative coins of the “Maple Leaf” series made from silver and gold read in a separate article.

Interesting Facts

• In the 1950s, the Royal Canadian Mint ran into a technical problem while minting Voyager nickel commemorative coins. The matter was in the reverse during the grinding process, four lines partially or completely disappeared, indicating the water surface under the canoe. As a result, from year to year visual differences were observed in the appearance of the reverse.
• The circulation of coins of 1953 definitely did not succeed, because the portrait of the Queen, minted on the obverse, had its flaws − the folds of the dress on the shoulder after polishing turned into what collectors called the “shoulder strap”. Later this was corrected, and the coins of 1953 circulation were tried to be removed from sale.