Commemorative coins of Canada facts for kids
Commemorative coins of Canada are special coins made by the Royal Canadian Mint. These coins celebrate important people, big events, or special anniversaries. They are like tiny pieces of art that tell a story about Canada's history and culture.
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Special Coins for Everyone
This article is about special coins you might find in your pocket. These are coins made for everyday use, like the two-dollar, one-dollar, fifty-cent, twenty-five-cent, ten-cent (dime), five-cent (nickel), and one-cent (penny, no longer made) coins. You can get them from the Mint or banks for their regular value.
These special coins are different from "numismatic" coins. Numismatic coins are collector's items. They have unique designs and cost more than their face value.
There are many commemorative coins, so we can't list them all here. Instead, this page will link to articles about each coin type. Those pages will show you lists of the special coins made for each one.
Designs on Canadian Coins
The front side of all Canadian coins shows the reigning monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The pictures of the monarchs on coins used to come from the Royal Mint in London. This made Canadian coins look similar to those from other Commonwealth countries. But since 1990, Canadian artists have designed the monarch's picture.
This means the special commemorative designs are on the back side of the coins. These designs replace the usual pictures. The regular designs have been on most coins since 1937. The one-dollar coin got its usual design in 1987, and the two-dollar coin in 1996. Usually, a different artist designs the special back side than the one who designs the monarch's picture.
Centennial and Canada 150 Series
Most of the time, a special coin design is only made for one type of coin. But there have been two times when all the coins got new designs! This happened in 1967 to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday (Canadian Centennial). It also happened in 2017 for Canada's 150th birthday (Canada 150).
1967 Centennial Coins
For the 1967 Centennial series, the Mint asked a famous Canadian artist named Alex Colville to create new coin designs. Here are his designs and what they meant:
| Denomination | Design | Symbolism | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penny | Rock dove | Peace and spiritual values | 345,140,645 |
| Nickel | Snowshoe rabbit | New life and growth | 36,876,574 |
| Dime | Mackerel | Continuity (things lasting) | 62,998,215 |
| Quarter | Lynx | Smartness and quick action | 48,855,500 |
| 50-cent piece | Howling wolf | Canada's huge size | 4,211,392 |
| Silver dollar | Goose | Calmness and movement | 6,767,496 |
2017 Canada 150 Coins
For the 2017 Canada 150 series, the Royal Canadian Mint held a contest. It was called My Canada, My Inspiration. People submitted ideas for the back designs of five circulating coins. The 50-cent coin kept the Canadian Coat of Arms on the back. But the front of the 50-cent coin had the Canada 150 logo, designed by Ariana Cuvin, instead of Queen Elizabeth II.
| Denomination | Theme | Designer | Title | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel | Our Passions | Gerald Gloade | Living Traditions | 20,000,000 |
| Dime | Our Character | Amy Choi | Wings of Peace | 20,000,000 |
| Quarter | Canada's Future | Joelle Wong | Hope for a Green Future | 20,000,000 |
| 50-cent piece | Confederation | Ariana Cuvin | CANADA 150 | 875,000 |
| Loonie | Our Achievements | Wesley Klassen | Connecting a Nation | 10,000,000 |
| Toonie | Our Wonders | Stephen and Timothy Hsia | Dance of the Spirits | 10,000,000 |
Two-Dollar Coin (Toonie)
The two-dollar coin, called the toonie, first came out in 1996. It replaced the two-dollar paper bill from the Bank of Canada. The usual design on the back of the toonie is a polar bear.
To see a list of special two-dollar coins, check out: Toonie.
One-Dollar Coin (Voyageur and Loonie)
Voyageur Dollar
There have been two different designs for the one-dollar coin. The first one, the Voyageur dollar, was made in 1935. It celebrated 25 years of King George V's rule. It showed a voyageur (a French-Canadian fur trader) and an Indigenous man. They were paddling a birch-bark canoe full of furs. The northern lights were in the background. Even though it was a special coin, it was made until 1986. This was just before the loonie was introduced.
For more about the Voyageur dollar, see: Voyageur dollar.
Loonie
In 1987, the Mint started making a new one-dollar coin. It usually has a loon bird on the back. This coin is nicknamed the loonie. It replaced both the one-dollar paper bill and the old Voyageur dollar coin.
For a list of special one-dollar coins made since 1987, see: Loonie.
Fifty-Cent Coin
The fifty-cent coin has had the Canadian coat of arms on its back since 1937. There were small changes to the coat of arms design in 1959. The Queen also suggested changing the crown on the arms. Even though it's a regular coin, the fifty-cent coin is not often used.
For a list of special fifty-cent coins, see: 50-cent piece (Canadian coin).
Twenty-Five Cent Coin (Quarter)
The twenty-five-cent coin has had a caribou on its back since 1937. This coin is the one most often used for special commemorative designs.
For a list of special twenty-five-cent coins, see: Quarter (Canadian coin).
Ten-Cent Coin (Dime)
The ten-cent coin has shown the Nova Scotia schooner, the Bluenose, on its back since 1937.
For a list of special ten-cent coins, see: Dime (Canadian coin).
Five-Cent Coin (Nickel)
The five-cent coin has had a beaver on its back since 1937.
For a list of special five-cent coins, see: Nickel (Canadian coin).
One-Cent Coin (Penny)
The one-cent coin had two maple leaves on its back from 1937 until it stopped being made in 2013.
For a list of special one-cent coins, see: Penny (Canadian coin).
See Also
