Canadian silver dollar

The Royal Canadian Mint issued the first silver dollar in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. The coin’s reverse design was sculpted by Emanuel Hahn and portrays a voyageur and an aboriginal paddling a birch-bark canoe. The faint lines in the background represent the Northern Lights. The voyageur design was used on the dollar until 1986.[1] It was then replaced with the 1987 Canadian 1 dollar coin (Loonie). 1967 marked the end of the silver dollar as a business strike, or a coin issued for circulation. After 1967, the dollar coin was made of nickel, except for non-circulating commemorative issues for the collector market, which continue to contain silver.

Varieties

1947

Ten varieties of the 1947 Voyageur Dollar exist. The ten varieties can be placed into three distinct categories: the Pointed Seven, the Blunt Seven, and the Maple Leaf issue. The mintages for all of these are included on the mintage indicated on the chart below.

Pointed seven

Two styles of the number 7 in 1947 were used in the dies to produce the Voyageur coins. The seven was a tall figure with the lower tail pointing back to the right. [2] On some of the coins, a dot appears near the 7. This is attributed to an imperfection in the die. Six different varieties of the Pointed 7 exist.

Blunt seven

A shorter 7 with the lower tail pointing almost straight down has been labelled as the blunt seven. [3]

Maple Leaf issue

In 1947, India gained its independence from the British Empire and as a result, the inscription "IND:IMP:" needed to be removed from the Obverse of the 1948 Silver Dollar. However, because there was a delay of new master dies being shipped from the UK to reflect this change, the Mint continued to produce 1947 year coins with a small Maple Leaf by the date to denote they were actually minted in 1948. Eventually the new Obverse dies did arrive, and they began to mint the 1948 Dollars mid way through the year. The very low mintages of these made the 1947 Maple Leaf and 1948 dollars exceptionally rare, with the 1948 Silver Dollar commanding a very high market price(Mint Condition 1948 coins are worth over $1900cdn as of March 2010).

1950-1952

Arnprior type varieties

A technical problem emanated during the 1950s that was to plague the Royal Canadian Mint. At each end of the canoe on the Voyageur Dollar, are four shallow water lines. In the process of polishing the dies, parts of these lines tended to disappear. The result was that there were differences in the appearance of the coins from year to year. There were collectors that decided arbitrarily that a certain pattern of partial water lines at the right-hand end of the canoe should be collected separately and command a premium over dollars with perfect water lines or other partial lines configurations.[5] The Arnprior type configurations tended to consist of 2 and ½ water lines at the right. Any trace of the bottom water line disqualified a coin from being considered an Arnprior type.[6]

Varieties of 1952

A modified reverse, with no water lines at all, was put into use in 1952. In addition to removing the water lines, this modified reverse was different because the image of the canoe on the coin had a larger islet tip at the right end. This variety is different from the Arnprior coins in that it was deliberately created.[7]

Origin of the Arnprior name

In December 1955, the Royal Canadian Mint made up an order of 2,000 silver dollars for a firm in Arnprior, Ontario. These coins had 2 and ½ water lines at the right end of the canoe. This was similar to the accidental disappearance of water lines on the versions from 1950-1951. The 1955 dollars caught the interest of many collectors and it was this version that led to the term Arnprior being applied to any dollar with an appearance of missing water lines. An even more collectible of the 1955 Arnprior, is given by the die break on the obverse legend, with the result being the joining of the T and the I in GRATIA.[8]

No shoulder fold obverse

An element that was common on every denomination of 1953 was the two obverses that existed. Said obverses are commonly identified as the No Shoulder Fold and the Shoulder Fold. The coinage for the year featured the new effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. The sculptress was Mrs. Mary Gillick and she created a model with a relief that was too high. The centre portion of the effigy was to feature two lines on the shoulder. These lines were supposed to represent a fold in the Queen’s gown. As these lines did not appear very well, it was commonly termed the No Shoulder Strap by many collectors.[9] Later on in the year, the Royal Canadian Mint’s Chief engraver Thomas Shingles lowered the relief of the model and strengthened the shoulder and hair details. This modified obverse became known as the Shoulder Strap variety.

1957 Arnprior

The 1957 dollar had a reverse that was considered an Arnprior. The reverse featured one water line to the right of the canoe.

1965

Although 1965 would mark a change in the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, the year would offer five different varieties of the dollar.

Variety 1 and 2

The small beads on the obverse of the coin define varieties 1 and 2. The rear jewel on Queen Elizabeth II’s tiara is well attached. The 5 in 1965 has two varieties. There is a pointed 5 (the point is at the bottom) while there is another version with a blunt 5 (the bluntness is at the bottom of the 5 too).

Variety 3 and 4

The large beads on the obverse of the coin define varieties 3 and 4. The rear jewel on Queen Elizabeth II’s tiara is well attached. The 5 in 1965 has two varieties. There is a pointed 5 (the point is at the bottom) while there is another version with a blunt 5 (the bluntness is at the bottom of the 5 too).

Variety 5

The obverse of variety 5 features medium beads. Unlike the other varieties, the 5 in 1965 is pointed.

1982 planchet varieties

The 1982 nickel dollar exists on a rolled thin planchet. The normal planchet has a weight of 15.62 grams, a diameter of 32.13 mm, and a thickness of 2.50 mm. The thin planchet consists of incomplete reeding. Its weight is 7.78 grams, a diameter of 31.82 mm, and a thickness of 1.50 mm.[10] It is believed that only two exist.

History of composition

Voyageur

Years Weight Diameter/Shape Composition
1968–1986 15.62 g 32.13 mm 100% nickel
1935–1967[11] 23.33 g 36.00 mm 80% silver, 20% copper

[12]

Commemorative dollar specifications

Type Years Composition Weight (grams) Diameter Thickness Edge
Specimen Nickel Dollars 1968–1976, 1982, 1984 .999 Nickel 15.62 grams 32.13 mm N/A Reeded
Specimen/Proof Silver Dollars 1971–1991 .500 silver, .500 copper 23.30 grams 36.07 mm N/A Reeded
Proof/Nickel Bronze Dollars (See $1 (Loonie) for history) 1987-date Nickel Plated with Bronze 7.00 grams 26.50 mm 1.90 mm 11-sided plain
Proof Silver Dollars 1992–2002 .925 silver, .075 copper 25.175 grams 36.07 mm 2.95 mm Reeded
Proof Silver Dollars 2003–2006 99.99% silver 25.175 grams 36.07 mm 3.02 mm Reeded
Proof Silver Dollars 2007 - 2011 .925 silver, .075 copper 25.175 grams 36.07 mm N/A Reeded
Proof Silver Dollars 2012 – Date 99.99% silver 23.17 grams 35.9 mm 2.8 mm Reeded

[13]

Voyageur mintages and the 1911 silver dollar

Silver content, 1911, 1935-1967

Year Mintage
1911 3
1935 428,707
1936 306,100
1937 241,002
1938 90,304
1939 1,363,816
1945 38,391
1946 93,055
1947 65,595
1947ML 21,135
1948 18,780
1950 261,002
1951 416,395
1952 406,148
1953 1,074,578
1954 246,606
1955 268,105
1956 209,092
1957 496,389
1958 3,039,564
1959 1,443,502
1960 1,420,486
1961 1,262,231
1962 1,884,789
1963 4,179,981
1964 7,296,832
1965 10,768,569
1966 9,912,178
1967 6,767,496

Nickel content, 1968-1986

Year Mintage
1968 5,579,714
1969 4,809,313
1972 2,193,000
1975 3,256,000
1976 2,101,000
1977 1,393,745
1978 2,948,488
1979 1,884,789
1980 2,544,000
1981 2,778,900
1982 1,544,398
1983 2,267,525
1984 1,223,486
1985 3,104,592
1986 3,089,225

Commemorative nickel dollar

Year Theme Artist Mintage
1970 Manitoba Centennial Raymond Taylor 4,140,058
1971 British Columbia Centennial Terry Manning, Thomas Shingles 4,260,781
1973 Prince Edward Island Centennial Terry Manning, Walter Ott 3,196,452
1974 Winnipeg Centennial Paul Pederson, Patrick Brindley 2,799,363
1982 Constitution Commemorative Ago Aarand 11,812,000
1984 Jacques Cartier's landing at Gaspé Hector Greville, Victor Cote 6,141,503

Commemorative silver dollar series

1935-1980

Year Theme Artist Mintage Issue Price
1935 Voyageur Dollar Emanuel Hahn 428,707 $1.00
1939 Royal Visit Emanuel Hahn 1,363,816 $1.00
1949 Newfoundland Entry Into Confederation Thomas Shingles 672,218 $1.00
1958 Founding of the colony of British Columbia Stephen Trenka 3,039,630 $1.00
1964 Confederation Meetings Commemorative Dinko Vodanovic 7,296,832 $1.00
1967 Canadian Centennial Alex Colville and Myron Cook 6,767,496 $1.00
1971 B.C. Centennial Patrick Brindley 585,217 $3.00
1973 RCMP Centennial Paul Cedarberg 904,723 $3.00
1974 City of Winnipeg Centennial Paul Pederson 628,183 $3.50
1975 City of Calgary Centennial D.D. Paterson 833,095 $3.50
1976 Library of Parliament Centennial Patrick Brindley and Walter Ott 483,722 $4.00
1977 Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II Raymond Lee 744,848 $4.25
1978 Commonwealth Games Raymond Taylor 640,000 $4.50
1979 Griffon Tricentennial Walter Schluep 688,671 $5.50
1980 Arctic Territories Centennial D.D. Paterson 389,564 $22.00

[14]

1981-1999

Note: 1981 was the first year that the RCM issued two different qualities of silver dollars. One version was the Proof, which composed of a frosted relief against a parallel lined background. The second version was the Brilliant Uncirculated. The finish is classified as a brilliant relief on a brilliant background.

Year Theme Artist Mintage (Proof) Issue Price (Proof) Mintage (BU) Issue Price (BU)
1981 Canadian Pacific Railway Centennial Christopher Gorey 353,742 $18.00 148,647 $14.00
1982 Regina Centennial Huntley Brown 577,959 $15.25 144,989 $10.95
1983 World University Games Carola Tietz 340,068 $16.15 159,450 $10.95
1984 Toronto Sesquicentennial D.J. Craig 571,079 $17.50 133,563 $11.40
1985 National Parks Centennial Karel Rohlicek 537,297 $17.50 162,873 $12.00
1986 Vancouver Centennial Elliott John Morrison 496,418 $18.00 124,574 $12.25
1987 John Davis 400th Anniversary Christopher Gorey 405,688 $19.00 118,722 $14.00
1988 Saint-Maurice Ironworks R.R. Carmichael 259,230 $20.00 106,702 $15.00
1989 Mackenzie River Bicentennial John Mardon 272,319 $21.75 110,650 $16.25
1990 Henry Kelsey Tricentennial D.J. Craig 222,983 $22.95 85,763 $16.75
1991 Frontenac D.J. Craig 222,892 $22.95 82,642 $16.75
1992 Kingston to York Stagecoach Karsten Smith 187,612 $23.95 78,160 17.50
1993 Stanley Cup Centennial Stewart Sherwood 294,214 $23.95 88,150 $17.50
1994 RCMP Northern Dog Team Ian D. Sparkes 178,485 $24.50 65,295 $17.95
1995 325th Anniversary Hudson's Bay Company Vincent McIndoe 166,259 $24.50 61,819 $17.95
1996 John McIntosh, McIntosh Apple Roger Hill 133,779 $29.95 58,834 $19.95
1997 25th Anniversary of Canada/Russia Summit Series Walter Burden 184,965 $29.95 155,252 $19.95
1997 10th Anniversary of Loon Dollar Jean-Luc Grondin 24,995 $49.95 No BU Exists N/A
1998 125th Anniversary of RCMP Adeline Halvorson 130,795 $29.95 81,376 $19.95
1999 225th Anniversary of the Voyage of Juan Perez D.J. Craig 126,435 $29.95 67,655 $19.95

[15]

2000-2016

Year Theme Artist Mintage (Proof) Issue Price (Proof) Mintage (BU) Issue Price (BU)
2000 Voyage of Discovery D.F. Warkentin 121,575 $29.95 62,975 $19.95
2001 50th Anniversary of the National Ballet of Canada Dora de Pédery-Hunt 89,390 $30.95 53,668 $20.95
2001 90th Anniversary of the Striking of Canada's 1911 Silver Dollar W.H.J. Blakemore 24,996 $49.95 No BU Exists N/A
2002 Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II Royal Canadian Mint Staff 29,688 $33.95 64,410 $24.95
2003 Discovery of Cobalt John Mardon 88,536 $36.95 51,130 $28.95
2004 400th Anniversary, First French Settlement in North America R.R. Carmichael 81,335 $36.95 41,934 $28.95
2005 40th Anniversary, Flag of Canada William Woodruff N/A $34.95 N/A $24.95
2006 Victoria Cross Royal Canadian Mint Staff N/A $34.95 N/A $26.95
2007 Thayendanegea Joseph Brant RCM Staff based on image by Laurie McGaw 35,000 $42.95 65,000 $34.95
2008 Quebec City, 400th Anniversary & 1st French settlement in North America. Suzanne Duranceau 35,000 $42.95 65,000 $34.95
2009 100th Anniversary of flight in Canada. Jason Bouwman 50,000 $47.95 50,000 $39.95
2010 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy. Yves Bérubé 50,000 $52.95 50,000 $46.95
2011 100th Anniversary of Parks Canada. Luc Normandson 40,000 $55.95 25,000 $40.95
2012 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812. Ardell Bourgeois 40,000 $59.95 25,000 $54.95
2013 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Arctic Expedition Bonnie Ross 40,000 $59.95 20,000 $54.95
2014 100th Anniversary - Declaration of First World War Bonnie Ross 40,000 $59.99 20,000 $54.95
2015 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Flag John Mantha 20,000 $59.95 15,000 $54.95
2016 150th Anniversary of the Trans-Atlantic Cable Yves Bérubé 20,000 $59.99 No BU ? N/A ?

[16]

Special edition proof silver dollars

Year Theme Artist Mintage Issue Price
1999 International Year of Older Persons S. Armstrong-Hodgins 24,976 $49.95
2002 The Queen Mother Royal Canadian Mint Staff 9,994 $49.95
2003 50th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (First Effigy of Queen) Emanuel Hahn 21,400 N/A
2003 50th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (Fourth Effigy of Queen) Emanuel Hahn 29,586 $51.95
2004 400th Anniversary First French Settlement in North America, Privy Marked (part of Coin and Stamp Set) R.R. Carmichael 8,315 $99.95
2004 The Poppy Cosme Saffioti 24,527 $49.95
2006 Medal of Bravery Royal Canadian Mint Staff N/A $54.95
2007 Celebration of the Arts Friedrich Peter 20,000 $54.95
2008 100th Anniversary, Royal Canadian Mint Jason Bouwman 25,000 $59.95
2009 100th Anniversary, Montreal Canadiens Jason Bouwman 15,000 $69.95
2010 75th Anniversary of Canada's Voyageur Silver Dollar Percy Metcalf 7,500 $69.95
2011 100th Anniversary of the striking of Canada's 1911 Silver Dollar W.H.J. Blakemore 15,000 $64.95
2012 100th Anniversary of the Grey Cup Filip Mroz of Bensimon Byrne 10,000 $69.99
2012 100th Anniversary of the first Calgary Stampede Steve Hepburn 10,000 $69.95
2013 250th Anniversary of the end of the Seven Years War Tony Bianco 10,000 $69.95
2013 60th Anniversary of the end of the Korean War Edward Carter Preston 10,000 $69.95
2014 75th Anniversary of the declaration of the Second World War Silvia Pecota 7,500 $69.99
2015 100th Anniversary of the poem "In Flanders Fields" Tony Bianco 10,000 $79.99

References

  1. ↑ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p.155, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  2. ↑ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 158, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  3. ↑ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 158, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  4. ↑ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 158, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  5. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 160, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  6. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 160, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  7. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 161, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  8. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 163, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  9. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 70, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  10. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 544, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  11. ↑ "In the summer of 1967 the silver content of the dime and quarter were reduced from 80% to 50% and production of 50-cent pieces and dollars for general circulation was stopped."Coins and Tokens: 1870 to the Present The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  12. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th W.K. Cross, Editor, pp. 155-172, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  13. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th W.K. Cross, Editor, pp. 289, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  14. ↑ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, pp.155-170, pp.289-299, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  15. ↑ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, pp.299-312, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  16. ↑ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, pp.85-97, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 978-0-88968-352-5
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