Quarter (Canadian coin)
Encyclopedia
The quarter is a Canadian coin
, valued at 25 cent
s or one-fourth of a Canadian dollar
. It is a small, circular coin of silver colour. According to the Royal Canadian Mint
, the official name for the coin is the 25-cent piece, but in practice it is simply called a quarter.
In 2004, a quarter was issued in honour of Remembrance Day
, featuring a corn poppy
on the reverse, a traditional symbol in Canada of that day. This resulted in a bizarre international incident, in which American contractors unfamiliar with the coin's design believed these coins were outfitted with nanotechnology
designed for espionage
.
, the Mint
released twelve commemorative coins, one for each Canadian province and territory
at the time. These were the inspiration for the US 50 State Quarters
program of 1999-2008. Note: Nunavut
, which separated from the Northwest Territories
in 1999, was honoured with a special $2 coin
.
announced the Millennium Coin Design Contest, a contest open to all Canadians to submit designs for twenty-four millennium quarters, one for each month of 1999 and 2000. The 1999 designs were meant to look back on Canada's past, while the 2000 designs looked to the future. While the 1999 coins were labeled with their month of issue, the 2000 coins were labeled with the relevant theme (see below).
and Saskatchewan
, two commemorative quarters were issued. The public was given the opportunity to vote on the coin design through two toll-free phone numbers.
There were four candidate designs for the Alberta quarter: Big Sky Country, Alberta’s Natural Beauty, A Dynamic Century, and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
. The winning design was Big Sky Country, by Michelle Grant, and depicted an oil derrick with cattle
grazing at its base. The coin had a mintage of 20,640,000.
There were three candidate designs for the Saskatchewan quarter: The Western Meadowlark
, Canada Geese over Wascana Lake, and The Round Dance Celebration. The winning design was Western Meadowlark, designed by Paulette Sapergia. The coin's mintage was 19,290,000.
coins in this series, including 2007 Paralympic wheelchair curling and 2009 Olympic Alpine Skiing coins. With the medalist coins now called the Olympic moments coins, a very small percentage will be a colorized version.
Olympic first strikes
with designs aimed to attract young collectors. As with other collector coins issued by the RCM, the Canada Day series coins are non-circulating legal tender.
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
, valued at 25 cent
Cent (currency)
In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent....
s or one-fourth of a Canadian dollar
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
. It is a small, circular coin of silver colour. According to the Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
, the official name for the coin is the 25-cent piece, but in practice it is simply called a quarter.
History of Composition
| Years | Mass | Diameter/Shape | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–present | 4.40 g | 23.88 mm | 94.0% steel Steel Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten... (unspecified alloy), 3.8% copper Copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish... , 2.2% nickel Nickel Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile... plating |
| 1968–1999 | 5.05 g | 23.88 mm | 99.9% nickel |
| 1967-1968 | 5.05 g | 23.88 mm | 50% silver, 50% copper |
| 1953–1967 | 5.83 g | 23.88 mm | 80% silver Silver Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal... , 20% copper |
| 1920–1952 | 5.83 g | 23.62 mm | 80% silver, 20% copper |
| 1910–1919 | 5.83 g | 23.62 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
| 1908–1910 | 5.81 g | 23.62 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
Commemorative reverses
Ordinarily featuring a caribou, the quarter has the most commonly altered reverse in Canada, and is the usual venue for commemorative issues.In 2004, a quarter was issued in honour of Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
, featuring a corn poppy
Corn poppy
Papaver rhoeas is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae...
on the reverse, a traditional symbol in Canada of that day. This resulted in a bizarre international incident, in which American contractors unfamiliar with the coin's design believed these coins were outfitted with nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
designed for espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
.
Single commemorative designs
| Image | Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Canada's Centennial Canadian Centennial The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each... |
Alex Colville | 48,855,500 | The reverse featured a bobcat Bobcat The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States... . |
|
| 1973 | 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,... |
Paul Cedarberg | 135,958,589 | The reverse depicted a mounted RCMP officer obverse featured Queen Elizabeth II. |
|
| 2002 | Canadian Maple Leaf | Judith Chartier | 30,627,000 | 1952–2002 | |
| 2004 | Acadia Acadia Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as... (Île Ste. Croix) |
R.R. Carmichael, Stan Witten |
15,400,000 | The reverse depicted a 17th century sailing ship, "La Bonne-Renommée" and the dates 1604–2004. | |
| 2004 | Remembrance Day Remembrance Day Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth... |
Cosme Saffioti, Stan Witten |
28,500,000 | The reverse featured a corn poppy Corn poppy Papaver rhoeas is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae... coloured red, the first coloured general circulation coin in the world. |
|
| 2005 | Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... Centennial |
Michelle Grant | 20,640,000 | ||
| 2005 | Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... Centennial |
Paulette Sapergia | 19,290,000 | ||
| 2005 | Year of the Veteran | Elaine Gobel | 29,396,000 | ||
| 2006 | Pink Ribbon Awareness ribbon Awareness ribbons, due to their ubiquitous nature, have come to symbolize various concerns depending on the colours or the patterns used. For example, black ribbons may be used for mourning.... |
Cosme Saffioti | 29,798,000 | The second colourized coin in general issue. the coloration is more scratch-resistant. | |
| 2006 | Medal of Bravery Medal of Bravery The Medal of Bravery is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the third highest award for bravery, and one of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council... |
RCM Engravers | 20,040,000 | ||
| 2008 | Remembrance Day Remembrance Day Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth... 90th anniversary |
Cosme Saffioti, Stan Witten |
11,000,000 | Re-issue of 2004 design (but with a superior red poppy process & appearance), with '1918 Armistice' added to commemorate 90th anniversary. | |
| 2010 | 65th anniversary of World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
Features a soldier with a bowed head and hands on a rifle in front of a maple leaf. Two colored poppies are on each side of the soldier. |
125th Anniversary of Confederation
In 1992, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of ConfederationCanadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, the Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
released twelve commemorative coins, one for each Canadian province and territory
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
at the time. These were the inspiration for the US 50 State Quarters
50 State Quarters
The 50 State Quarters program is the release of a series of circulating commemorative coins by the United States Mint. Between 1999 and 2008, it featured each of the 50 U.S. states on unique designs for the reverse of the quarter....
program of 1999-2008. Note: Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, which separated from the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
in 1999, was honoured with a special $2 coin
Toonie
The Canadian 2 dollar coin, commonly called Toonie, was introduced on February 19, 1996 by Public Works minister Diane Marleau. The Toonie is a bi-metallic coin which bears an image of a polar bear, by Campbellford, Ontario artist Brent Townsend, on the reverse. The obverse, like all other current...
.
| Province | Date of Release | Artist | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
June 4, 1992 | Mel Heath | 12,133,000 |
| British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... |
November 9, 1992 | Carla Egan | 14,001,000 |
| Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
April 7, 1992 | Muriel Hope | 11,349,000 |
| New Brunswick New Brunswick New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area... |
January 9, 1992 | Ronald Lambert | 12,174,000 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400... |
March 5, 1992 | Christoper Newhook | 11,405,000 |
| Northwest Territories Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south... |
February 6, 1992 | Beth McEachen | 12,580,000 |
| Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the... |
September 9, 1992 | Bruce Wood | 13,600,000 |
| Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
August 6, 1992 | Greg Salmela | 14,263,000 |
| Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population... |
July 7, 1992 | Nigel Roe | 13,001,000 |
| Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
October 1, 1992 | Romualdas Bukauskas | 13,607,000 |
| Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... |
November 5, 1992 | Brian Cobb | 14,165,000 |
| Yukon Yukon Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in.... |
May 7, 1992 | Libby Dulac | 10,388,000 |
Millennium quarters
In April 1998, the MintRoyal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
announced the Millennium Coin Design Contest, a contest open to all Canadians to submit designs for twenty-four millennium quarters, one for each month of 1999 and 2000. The 1999 designs were meant to look back on Canada's past, while the 2000 designs looked to the future. While the 1999 coins were labeled with their month of issue, the 2000 coins were labeled with the relevant theme (see below).
| Image | Month | Theme | Artist | Date of Issue | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1999 | A Country Unfolds | Peter Ka-Kin Poon | January 5, 1999 | 12,238,559 | |
| February 1999 | Etched in Stone | Lonnie Springer | February 1, 1999 | 13,985,195 | |
| March 1999 | The Log Drive | Marjolaine Lavoie | 15,157,061 | ||
| April 1999 | Our Northern Heritage | Kenojuak Ashevak | March 30, 1999 | 15,214,397 | |
| May 1999 | The Voyageurs | Sergiy Minenok | May 3, 1999 | 14,906,187 | |
| June 1999 | From Coast to Coast | Gordon Ho | June 2, 1999 | 19,821,722 | |
| July 1999 | A Nation of People | Maria H. Sarkany | July 1, 1999 | 16,537,018 | |
| August 1999 | The Pioneer Spirit | Alzira Botelho | August 3, 1999 | 17,621,561 | |
| September 1999 | Canada Through a Child’s Eye | Claudia Bertrand | August 27, 1999 | 31,077,650 | |
| October 1999 | A Tribute to First Nations | Jason Edward Read | October 4, 1999 | 31,964,487 | |
| November 1999 | The Airplane Opens the North | Brian R. Bacon | 27,437,677 | ||
| December 1999 | This Is Canada | J.L. Pierre Provencher | 42,927,482 | ||
| January 2000 | Pride Red color was added to the two on Maple Leaf (over $25.00) |
Donald F. Warkentin | January 6, 2000 | 50,749,102 | |
| February 2000 | Ingenuity | John Jaciw | February 4, 2000 | 35,812,988 | |
| March 2000 | Achievement | Daryl Ann Dorosz | 35,135,154 | ||
| April 2000 | Health | Anny Wassef | April 5, 2000 | 34,663,619 | |
| May 2000 | Natural Legacy | Randy Trantau | 36,416,953 | ||
| June 2000 | Harmony | Haver Demirer | June 1, 2000 | 34,604,075 | |
| July 2000 | Celebration Red color was added to the Flag (over $100.00) |
Laura Paxton | June 29, 2000 | 34,816,329 | |
| August 2000 | Family | Wade Stephen Baker | August 1, 2000 | 34,320,111 | |
| September 2000 | Wisdom | Cezar Şerbănescu | September 6, 2000 | 33,993,016 | |
| October 2000 | Creativity | Eric (Kong Tat) Hui | October 4, 2000 | 35,102,206 | |
| November 2000 | Freedom | Kathy Vinish | November 1, 2000 | 33,251,352 | |
| December 2000 | Community | Michelle Thibodeau | December 4, 2000 | 34,378,898 |
Alberta and Saskatchewan Centennial
In 2005, to celebrate the centennials of the provinces of AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, two commemorative quarters were issued. The public was given the opportunity to vote on the coin design through two toll-free phone numbers.
There were four candidate designs for the Alberta quarter: Big Sky Country, Alberta’s Natural Beauty, A Dynamic Century, and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
. The winning design was Big Sky Country, by Michelle Grant, and depicted an oil derrick with cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
grazing at its base. The coin had a mintage of 20,640,000.
There were three candidate designs for the Saskatchewan quarter: The Western Meadowlark
Western Meadowlark
Not to be confused with Eastern MeadowlarkThe Western Meadowlark is a medium-sized icterid bird, about 8.5 in long. It nests on the ground in open country in western and central North America. It feeds mostly on insects, but also seeds and berries...
, Canada Geese over Wascana Lake, and The Round Dance Celebration. The winning design was Western Meadowlark, designed by Paulette Sapergia. The coin's mintage was 19,290,000.
2010 Vancouver Olympics
The Olympic coins do not have the inscription 'D.G. Regina' (Latin for 'By the Grace of God, Queen') making the coins "godless circulating coins". There have been a couple of circulation strike muleMule (coin)
In numismatics, a mule is a coin or medal minted with obverse and reverse designs not normally seen on the same piece. These can be intentional or produced by error. This type of error is highly sought after, and examples can fetch steep prices from collectors.The earliest mules are found among...
coins in this series, including 2007 Paralympic wheelchair curling and 2009 Olympic Alpine Skiing coins. With the medalist coins now called the Olympic moments coins, a very small percentage will be a colorized version.
| Image | Date of Issue | Sport | Artist | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2007 | Curling | Glen Green | 22,000,400 | |
 |
April 3, 2007 | Ice Hockey | Glen Green | 22,000,400 |
| July 11, 2007 | Wheelchair curling Wheelchair curling Wheelchair curling is an adaptation of curling for athletes with a disability affecting their lower limbs or gait. Wheelchair curling is governed by the World Curling Federation, and is one of the sports in the Winter Paralympic Games.... |
Glen Green | 22,000,400 | |
| September 12, 2007 | Biathlon | Glen Green | 22,000,400 | |
| October 24, 2007 | Alpine Skiing | Glen Green | 22,000,400 | |
| February 20, 2008 | Snowboarding | Glen Green | 22,000,400 | |
| April 16, 2008 | Freestyle Skiing | Glen Green | 22,000,400 | |
| November 18, 2008 | Figure Skating | Glen Green | 22,000,400 | |
| June 23, 2009 | Bobsleigh | Glen Green | TBA | |
| January 15, 2009 | Cross Country Skiing | Glen Green | TBA | |
| March 12, 2009 | Speed Skating | Glen Green | TBA | |
| September 29, 2009 | Men's Ice Hockey | J.B. & RCM engravers | 20 000 000 | |
| September 29, 2009 | Men's Ice Hockey (colour) | J.B. & RCM engravers | 2,800,000 | |
| September 29, 2009 | Men's Ice Hockey (colour engraved 2) | J.B. & RCM engravers | 200,000 | |
| November 17, 2009 | Women's Ice Hockey | J.B. & RCM engravers | TBA | |
| November 17, 2009 | Women's Ice Hockey (colour) | J.B. & RCM engravers | 3,000,000 | |
| January 5, 2010 | Cindy Klassen Cindy Klassen Cindy Klassen, OM is a Canadian long track speed skater. Klassen is a six-time medalist at the Winter Olympics. She is tied with Clara Hughes for Canada's all-time most decorated Olympian with 6 medals each... (colour) |
J.B. & RCM engravers | 3,000,000 | |
| March 18, 2010 | Sledge hockey Sledge hockey Sledge hockey is a sport that was designed to allow participants who have a physical disability to play the game of ice hockey. Ice sledge hockey was invented in the early 1960s in Stockholm, Sweden at a rehabilitation center... |
G.G. | TBA | |
First strikes
| Year | Theme | Mintage | Issue Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Poppy | 9,928 | $19.95 |
| 2005 | Alberta Centennial | 8,936 | $14.95 |
| 2005 | MOOSE | 1,807 | $14.95 |
| 2005 | Saskatchewan Centennial | 6,926 | $14.95 |
| 2005 | Year of the Veteran | 7,820 | $14.95 |
| 2006 | Medal of Bravery | 5,000 | $15.95 |
| 2006 | New Mint Mark | 5,000 | $29.95 |
| 2006 | Pink Ribbon | 20,000 | $15.95 |
Olympic first strikes
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Curling | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | February 24 |
| 2007 | Ice Hockey | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | April 4 |
| 2007 | Paralympic Curling | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | July 11 |
| 2007 | Biathlon | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | September 12 |
| 2007 | Alpine Skiing | N/A | 10,000 | $15.95 | October 24 |
Canada Day
Since 2000, the RCM has been issuing colourized quarters on Canada DayCanada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
with designs aimed to attract young collectors. As with other collector coins issued by the RCM, the Canada Day series coins are non-circulating legal tender.
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Millennium Coloured Coin "Canada Day Canada Day Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire... " |
Laura Paxton | 26,106 | $8.95 | 1st Canada Day Coin. |
| 2001 | Canada Day Coloured Coin | Silke Ware | 96,352 | $9.95 | |
| 2002 | Canada Day Coloured Coin | Judith Chartier | 49,901 | $9.95 | Version w/o colour was circulated. |
| 2003 | Canada Day Coloured Coin | Jade Pearen | 63,511 | $9.95 | |
| 2004 | Canada Day Coloured Coin | Cosme Saffioti | 44,759 | $9.95 | |
| 2004 | Canada Day Multi-Ply Plated Steel | Nick Wooster | 29,762 | $24.95 | Part of Canada Day bundle. |
| 2005 | Canada Day Coin | Stan Witten | $9.95 | ||
| 2006 | Canada Day Coin (coloured featuring two children holding a Canadian flag) | $9.95 | Packaged with four Crayola Crayola Crayola is a brand of artists' supplies manufactured by Crayola LLC, which was founded in 1885 as Binney & Smith. It is best known for its crayons... crayons. |
||
| 2007 | Canada Day Coin (coloured featuring RCMP) | $9.95 | Packaged with tattoos. | ||
| 2008 | Canada Day Coin (coloured featuring a cool moose in shades with his cap on backwards) | $9.95 | Packaged with tattoos. | ||
| 2009 | Canada Day Coin (coloured featuring caricatures of the circulation coin animals [polar bear, beaver, loon and caribou] all in a schooner) | $14.95 | Packaged with a postcard and a magnetic frame with character magnets. | ||
Other notable dates
- The 1906 Small Crown is valued in the thousands of dollars for even very poor conditions.
- 1936 marked two valuable variations, the Bar and the Dot, both trend for over $1000 in uncirculated condition.
- The 1947 Dot is highly desired, and only 3 are known in existence. One can fetch a price of $100,000.00.
- The 1951 Low Relief was predominantly only made available in proof-like sets and have a mintage of around 500.
- The 1973 Large Bust is among the most desired Canadian Quarter. They sell for around $300 in Proof Like or Specimen condition, and can sell in the thousands for high end circulation strikes.
- The 1991 quarter had a low mintage, of 459,000
- The 1992 New Brunswick quarter has several rotated die versions, with the 180 degree rotation selling for between $100 and $200 in uncirculated condition.
- 1999 featured mule versions of the September and November quarters. These coins do not have the 25 CENTS mark on them, making them, ironically, legal tender without face value. Either usually sells for over $10 depending on the condition of the coin. The Royal Canadian Mint estimates a combined mintage of 10,000 to 50,000 of the September and November mules.
- The 2000 Millennium Map Mule. Highly sought after by collectors, this is a modern rarity with about 100 known examples, as referenced in population reports of coin certification services (ICCS, CCCS, PCGS, NGC). Values range between $2000 and $5000.
- 2000P Caribou: two examples are known to exist. They fetch $50,000 or more (ICCS has graded both in MS-64: ICCS 2010 Population report). Both are in private collections.
- 2000P Creativity: two are known to exist. They fetch $15,000 to $20,000 (ICCS has graded one in MS-62 and the other in MS-66: ICCS 2010 Population report).
- 2000P Community: five are known to exist. They fetch $12,000 to $15,000 (ICCS has graded one in MS-60, two in MS-62, and two in MS-63: ICCS 2010 Population report).
Facts
- The first commemorative coins were planned for 1927 to celebrate Canada's 60th anniversary. A contest was held and the winner for the twenty-five cent coin was J.A.H. MacDonald; however, the MintRoyal Canadian MintThe Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
decided to not turn the design into coinage. - When coinage was changed in 1937, the caribou (currently on the quarter) was originally planned for the five cent coin, the beaver (nickel) was planned for the ten cent coin, and the BluenoseBluenoseBluenose was a Canadian fishing and racing schooner from Nova Scotia built in 1921. She was later commemorated by a replica Bluenose II built in 1963. A celebrated racing ship and hard-working fishing vessel, Bluenose became a provincial icon for Nova Scotia as well as important Canadian symbol in...
(dime) was planned for the twenty-five cent coin. - The lowest mintage of any circulated quarter post-World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was in 1991; low mintage was attributed to a work stoppage and using up stock in preparation for the release of the commemorative quarters the following year. The total mintage was a mere 459,000 including collector sets and proofs. - Canadian quarters were not issued into circulation in 1997 and 1998. In 1997, only 525,257 quarters were produced. In 1998, only 395,617 quarters were produced; even less than in 1991. All of them were issued in collector sets or proofs and none were issued into circulation.
- The caribou on the 25-cent piece dates back to 1936 when a change in the sovereign's image on circulation currency prompted the Canadian government to modify the designs on the reverse side of coins as well. The caribou design was created by Canadian artist Emanuel Hahn, initially used in 1937. It has been temporarily replaced in some years; in 1967 for the Canadian centennial (with a Canada LynxCanada LynxThe Canada lynx or Canadian lynx is a North American mammal of the cat family, Felidae. It is a close relative of the Eurasian Lynx . Some authorities regard both as conspecific. However, in some characteristics the Canada lynx is more like the bobcat than the Eurasian Lynx...
), in 1973 to celebrate the centennial of the North-West Mounted Police, in 1992 for Canada's 125th anniversary, and in 1999 and 2000 by the winning designs of the Millennium coin program.