Types of Circulating Canadian Coins
For avid coin collectors out there, it is common knowledge that many types of Canadian coins in circulation today are highly popular. This is because of the aesthetic beauty that these coins have, expressing both loyalty to their current monarch and the nationalistic pride that they feel about their country. From circulation, numismatic, ancient and rare coins; there are countless variations of Canada coinage to collect.
These coins are issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg Ontario. Each design of circulating Canadian coins has the following traits. The head side is of the monarch while the tail is of different national wildlife considered national treasures.If you’re interested in Canadian coin collecting, here are a few types of coins circulating in Canada that you must know of:
The Penny (1c) – Officially known as the "one-cent piece", this is perhaps the most popular of all Canadian currency. First produced in 1858 to try and bring order to the monetary system of Canada. Many now feel the penny may be discontinued as only 37% of Canadian use them.
The Nickel (5c) – The "five-cent piece" is worth one fifth of a Canadian dollar. It features the Canadian beaver and is currently made with steel and copper. It now bears nickel plating, although it was made of pure sterling silver when it was first introduced in 1858.
The Dime (10c) – This coin features the bluenose schooner, which is a historical Canadian fishing and sailing boat. It is currently the smallest of all Canadian coins and is referred to as the “Ten-cent piece” nationally. It is made of steel, copper and nickel plating.
The Quarter (25c) – The Quarter or “Twenty-Five-cent piece” features a caribou on its reverse side, which is a reindeer originating from the arctic and the sub arctic. This is usually the coin that is altered for commemorative purposes. It is made of steel, copper and nickel plating.
The Half Dollar (50c) – The half-dollar or the “Fifty-cent piece” features the official Coat of Arms of the Canadian monarch, and is closely derived from the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. This coin is regularly minted, but it is hardly ever seen in everyday transactions because of an existing belief it is one of many rare Canadian coins. It is made of steel, copper and nickel plating.
The Loonie ($1) – The One-Dollar Canadian coin was released in 1987 and fully replaced the 1$ (dollar bill) banknote in 1989. It features the Common Loon on its reverse side, which is the provincial bird of Ontario. It is made of Nickel with bronze plating.
The Toonie ($2) – The Two-Dollar coin is the latest coin to be introduced, having been in circulation only since 1996. It is called a “Toonie” because it is derived from the colloquial term “twoney,” and it features a polar bear on the reverse side.
These are the main types of Canadian coinage that are in circulation today. With stable coin values, variations and different prints being acquired by coin collectors all over the world. These coins have commemorative versions that were released in the past, present and future. If you want to have an impressive coin collection, having a variety of circulating Canadian coins is sure to catch anybody’s attention.
