Wikipedia

Canadian silver dollar

The Canadian silver dollar (French: Dollar argent du Canada) was first issued by the Royal Canadian Mint 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 a person of Indigenous descent 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 (colloquially known as the "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

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1911

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The three strikes of the 1911 silver dollar on display at the Bank of Canada Museum: the lead trial strike (left), the "Emperor of Canadian Coins" (centre) and the loan from the Royal Mint Museum (right).

While the silver dollar was not struck for production in 1911, three trial strikes were produced by the Royal Mint in London: two struck in silver and one in lead. Since these coins were unique and not intended for circulation, they have been classified as pattern coins. One of the silver coins, owned by the Royal Mint Museum, has been loaned to the Bank of Canada since 1976 and has been displayed in the Bank of Canada Museum since 1980. The lead coin was not discovered until 1977, during an office move from Parliament Hill. It was then promptly moved to the Bank of Canada's National Currency Collection with its silver counterpart.[2]

The second 1911 silver dollar had belonged to William Ellison-Macartney, deputy mint master of the Royal Mint.[3] After he died in 1924, the coin was passed on to his three children, before eventually being sold to Blair A. Seaby in 1960. He went on to display the coin to the public for the first time at a Canadian numismatic convention in Sherbrooke that same year, and at an American numismatic convention in Boston a week later.[2] The coin was eventually sold in 1965 to John McKay-Clements, former mayor of Haileybury, Ontario. Following McKay-Clements' death in 1976, the coin was auctioned off again. Due to its uniqueness, it gained the nickname of the "Emperor of Canadian Coins"[2] around the same time the 1911 half-dollar was dubbed the "King of Canadian Coins".[4]

The coin changed hands several more times,[5] being sold to Anthony Carrato of Eagle Coin Company for US$160,000 in July 1979, then Joseph Carlton and David Hirschman of Carlton Numismatics Inc. for US$325,000.[6] Eventually, the coin made its way back to Canada after being auctioned off for US$690,000 to George H. Cook, a renowned Canadian collector,[7] on January 13, 2003.[8] After his death in 2018, Cook's collection was auctioned off during the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in Chicago, where it was bought one final time by Sandy Campbell and Ian Laing for $734,000 after a 20% buyer's fee.[4] They then offered the coin to the Bank of Canada Museum, citing that they want to make sure the coin stays in Canada's public cultural sphere.[2] As part of the National Currency Collection, it rejoined its silver twin and lead counterpart for the first time in nearly 110 years since their mintage.

1947

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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

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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. [9] 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.

  • Pointed 7
  • Pointed 7 with a Double-Punched 4
  • Pointed 7 with a dot near the 7
  • Pointed 7 with a double punched HP under the effigy of His Majesty, King George VI
  • Pointed 7 with a triple punched HP under the effigy of His Majesty, King George VI
  • Pointed 7 with a quadruple punched HP under the effigy of His Majesty, King George VI (The HP is the initials of the designer: T.H. Paget)

Blunt seven

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A shorter 7 with the lower tail pointing almost straight down has been labelled as the blunt seven. [9]

  • Blunt 7
  • Blunt 7 with a double punched HP under the effigy of His Majesty, King George VI

Maple Leaf issue

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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 in 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 midway 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 CA$2,000 as of July 2019.[citation needed])

  • 1947 with the Maple Leaf near the 7
  • 1947 with the Maple Leaf near the 7 with a double punched HP under the effigy of His Majesty King George VI[9]

1950–1952

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Arnprior type varieties

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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.[10] 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.[10]

Varieties of 1952

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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.[11]

Origin of the Arnprior name

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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 to 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.[12]

No shoulder fold obverse

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An element that was common in 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 sculptor was 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.[13] 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

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

1965

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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

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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

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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

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

1982 planchet varieties

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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 2.5 mm. The thin planchet consists of incomplete reeding. Its weight is 7.78 grams, a diameter of 31.82 mm, and a thickness of 1.5 mm.[14] It is believed that only two exist.

History of composition

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Voyageur

Years Weight Diameter/shape Composition
1935–1967[15] 23.33 g 36 mm 80% silver, 20% copper
1968–1986 15.62 g 32.13 mm 100% nickel

[16]

Commemorative dollar specifications

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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 23.3 grams 36.07 mm
Proof/nickel bronze dollars (see Loonie for history) 1987–present Nickel Plated with Bronze 7 grams 26.5 mm 1.9 mm 11-sided plain
Proof silver dollars 1992–2002 .925 silver, .075 copper 25.175 grams 36.07 mm 2.95 mm Reeded
2003–2006 99.99% silver 3.02 mm
2007–2011 .925 silver, .075 copper N/A
2012–present 99.99% silver 23.17 grams 35.9 mm 2.8 mm

[17]

Voyageur mintages and the 1911 silver dollar

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Silver content, 1911, 1935–1967

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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
1949 672,218
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

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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

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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

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1935–1980

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Year Theme Artist Mintage Issue price
1935 Voyageur dollar Emanuel Hahn 428,707 $1
1939 1939 Royal visit Emanuel Hahn 1,363,816 $1
1949 Newfoundland entry into Confederation Thomas Shingles 672,218 $1
1958 Founding of the colony of British Columbia Stephen Trenka 3,039,630 $1
1964 Confederation meetings commemorative Dinko Vodanovic 7,296,832 $1
1967 Canadian centennial Alex Colville and Myron Cook 6,767,496 $1
1971 British Columbia centennial Patrick Brindley 585,217 $3
1973 RCMP centennial Paul Cedarberg 904,723 $3
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
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

[18]

1981–1999

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Note: 1981 was the first year that the RCM issued two different qualities of silver dollars. One version was the Proof, which was 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 $18 148,647 $14
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
1986 Vancouver centennial Elliott John Morrison 496,418 $18 124,574 $12.25
1987 John Davis 400th anniversary Christopher Gorey 405,688 $19 118,722 $14
1988 Saint-Maurice Ironworks R.R. Carmichael 259,230 $20 106,702 $15
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 of the 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 the Loonie 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

[19]

2000–2016

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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
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 of the first French settlement in North America R.R. Carmichael 81,335 $36.95 41,934 $28.95
2005 40th anniversary of the 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 of the declaration of the 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 ?

[20]

Special edition proof silver dollars

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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
50th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (fourth Effigy of Queen) Emanuel Hahn 29,586 $51.95
2004 400th anniversary of the first French settlement in North America (privy marked; part of coin and stamp set) R.R. Carmichael 8,315 $99.95
Remembrance 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 of the Royal Canadian Mint Jason Bouwman 25,000 $59.95
2009 100th anniversary of the 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
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
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

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to One dollar coins of Canada.
  1. ^ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p.155, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  2. ^ a b c d "The 1911 silver dollar". Bank of Canada Museum. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Lynch, Abigael (January 6, 2022). "Bank of Canada Museum acquires 1911 silver dollar deemed country's greatest rarity". Capital Current. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Starck, Jeff (August 25, 2019). ""Canadian 1911 silver dollar brings $552,000 at auction"". Coin World. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "Canada's Rarest Coins". Saskatoon Coin Club. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Reiter, Ed (April 5, 1981). "Rare Canadian Silver Dollar Brings Record Price". The New York Times. p. 39.
  7. ^ Starck, Jeff (April 2, 2019). "Major Canadian collection coming to August auction". Coin World. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "1911 Pattern Dollar DC-6 SPECIMEN 65 PCGS". Heritage Auctions. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 158, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  10. ^ a b Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 160, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  11. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 161, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  12. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 163, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  13. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 70, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  14. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, p. 544, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th W.K. Cross, Editor, pp. 155-172, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  17. ^ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th W.K. Cross, Editor, pp. 289, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  18. ^ 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
  19. ^ The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, W.K. Cross, pp.299-312, The Charlton Press, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-88968-297-6
  20. ^ 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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