Voyageur dollar
Canada | |
Value | 1 CAD |
---|---|
Mass | 15.62 g |
Diameter | 1935-1967 36 mm, 1968-1987 32.15 mm |
Thickness | 2.88 mm |
Edge | Milled |
Composition | 1935–1968 80% Ag, 20% Cu 1968–1987 99.9% Ni |
Years of minting | 1968–1987 |
Catalog number | – |
Obverse | |
Design | |
Designer | |
Reverse | |
Design | Voyageur and an aboriginal travelling by canoe[1][2] |
Designer | Emanuel Hahn |
The voyageur dollar is a
History
Production
On May 4, 1910, the Canadian government passed an amendment to the Currency Act (Bill 195) which, among other things, called for the requirement of a Canadian silver dollar.
Silver Jubilee
Struck in silver
The issue was generally considered a success, and beginning in 1936, the silver dollar (in .800 fine silver) was struck more-or-less annually as a regular issue for general circulation, with the same reverse design as in 1935. Although commemorative dollars were struck for circulation for the visit of
Struck in nickel
Beginning in 1968, following the 1967 Canadian Centennial series, the voyageur dollar design resumed. It was now struck in pure nickel, following the decision to debase Canada's coinage from silver to nickel. The change to this harder metal lead to the diameter of the coin being reduced from 36 mm to 32 mm, as it made minting considerably easier.[6] From then on, the series was only interrupted for circulating commemorative issues, except for those produced in 1982 (Constitution Acts dollar) and 1984 (Jacques Cartier dollar), where the voyageur design was also produced. It was last struck for circulation in 1986 and for collectors in 1987.
Change to the loonie
Neither the silver nor nickel dollars circulated well although the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) saw a need for a circulating dollar coin. Since a one-dollar coin could last 20 years longer than a one-dollar bill, they calculated that they could save up to $250 million in 20 years.[7] To encourage circulation, the size was reduced, the colour was changed, and the one-dollar note was eliminated from circulation.
Originally, the plans called for the voyageur design to be continued on the new gold-coloured dollar coin. This set of dies depicting the design was lost in transit.[8] To eliminate the risk of counterfeiting, an alternate design submitted by Robert-Ralph Carmichael in a 1978 coin design contest, featuring a loon, was used.[9] This became known as the loonie.
Commemorative editions
In 2003, in special proof sets honouring the fiftieth anniversary of the
In 2018, the RCM issued 5-troy-ounce (160 g) and 1 kg special-edition one-dollar fine-silver voyageur coins with gold plating. The latter is 102 mm in diameter and limited to 350 coins.[10]
Image | Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage[11] | Special notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1939 | The Royal Visit | Emanuel Hahn | 1,363,816 | Designed to commemorate King George VI and Queen Elizabeth 's visit to Ottawa. Inscribed are the Latin words Fide suorum regnat, meaning "He reigns by the faith of his people".
| |
1949 | Newfoundland joins Confederation
|
Ernest Maunder | 672,218 | The design features the Matthew, sailed by John Cabot when he first arrived in Newfoundland in 1497. Below the ship are the Latin words Floreat Terra Nova, meaning "May the New Found Land flourish". | |
1958 | 100th anniversary of British Columbia | Stephen Trenka | 3,039,630 | Designed to commemorate 100 years since both the Cariboo Gold Rush and the creation of British Columbia as a British Crown colony.[2] The design features a totem pole in the foreground, with the Rocky Mountains in the background. | |
1964 | 100th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences | Thomas Shingles | 7,296,832 | The design features the French fleur-de-lis, the Irish shamrock, the Scottish thistle, and the English rose. | |
1967 | Canada's Centennial | Alex Colville | 6,767,496 | The design features a Canada goose in flight. | |
1970 | 100th anniversary of the accession of Manitoba | Raymond Taylor | 4,140,058 | The design features a prairie crocus, the provincial flower of Manitoba. | |
1971 | 100th anniversary of the accession of British Columbia | Thomas Shingles | 4,260,781 | The design features British Columbia's coat of arms, as well as its provincial flower, the dogwood. | |
1973 | 100th anniversary of the accession of Prince Edward Island | Walter Ott | 3,196,452 | The design features Province House. | |
1974 | 100th anniversary of Winnipeg | Patrick Brindley | 2,799,363 | The design features the number 100, surrounded on top and bottom by lettering "Winnipg" and "1874–1974 Canada dollar" respectively. Inside the two zeroes are illustrations of Winnipeg's Main Street in 1874 (left) and 1974 (right)[2] | |
1982 | Constitution Acts of 1867 and 1982 | Ago Aarand | 9,709,402 | The design features a recreation of a painting of the Fathers of Confederation. | |
1984 | 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier arriving on the Gaspé Peninsula. | Hector Greville | 7,009,323 | The design features explorer Jacque Cartier in front of a cross with the French coat of arms. |
References
- ^ "Striking in its solitude – the 1-dollar coin, familiarly known as the 'loonie'". Royal Canadian Mint. Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c Royal Canadian Mint. "1 Dollar". Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c "The 1911 silver dollar". Bank of Canada Museum. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Lynch, Abigael (January 6, 2022). "Bank of Canada Museum acquires 1911 silver dollar deemed country's greatest rarity". Capital Current. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "CANADIAN SILVER DOLLARS (VOYAGEURS AND COMMEMORATIVES)". Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-0889682979.
- ^ 1987: Introducing the Loonie, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, archived from the original on September 23, 2015, retrieved December 2, 2022
- ^ "The loonie, a Canadian touchstone, is turning 20". CTV News. Canadian Press. June 27, 2007. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ "Check your pockets! You could be carrying a piece of local history". SooToday. June 24, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ "Largest 'Voyageur' coin ever issued at 1,006 grams". Canadian Coin News. 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- ISBN 978-1440246548.