Voyageur Dollar
Encyclopedia
Loonie
The Canadian 1 dollar coin is a gold-coloured, bronze-plated, one-dollar coin introduced in 1987. It bears images of a common loon, a bird which is common and well known in Canada, on the reverse, and of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.The design for the coin was meant to be a voyageur theme,...
. The coin remains legal tender.
History
In 1911, after lengthy debate, the first Canadian silver dollar was struck. Two remain, one in a museum, the other in private hands and recently auctioned for $1.4 million.In 1935, a commemorative silver dollar was struck for King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
's Silver Jubilee. It showed the King on the obverse and a canoe containing a voyageur
Voyageurs
The Voyageurs were the persons who engaged in the transportation of furs by canoe during the fur trade era. Voyageur is a French word which literally translates to "traveler"...
, or unlicensed fur trader (and a native
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
man), on the reverse. The canoe also contains two bundles of furs—on one, the initials HB, for Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
may be seen. The reverse was designed by Emanuel Hahn
Emanuel Hahn
Emanuel Otto Hahn was a German-born Canadian sculptor and coin designer. He taught and later married Elizabeth Wyn Wood. He co-founded and was the first president of the Sculptors' Society of Canada....
.
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, with the same reverse design as in 1935. Although commemorative dollars were struck for circulation for the visit of King George VI in 1939, no regular issue dollars were struck that year, or, as it turned out, until the end of World War II in 1945. Thereafter, Voyageur Dollars were struck each year through 1967, except in years when a commemorative dollar was struck for circulation.Nickel version
In 1968, the year following the special Canadian centennial series, which included a commemorative dollar, the Voyageur Dollar series resumed—but now struck in pure nickel with a diameter reduced from 38 mm to 32 mm, as Canada's coinage was debased from silver to nickel. In 1970, 1971, and 1973, the series was interrupted for circulating commemorative nickel dollars. Circulating commemorative nickel dollars were struck again in 1982 and 1984, but the Voyageur dollar was also produced. It was struck last for circulation in 1986, and for collectors in 1987.Change of design
The nickel dollar never circulated well. However, a need was seen by the mint for a circulating dollar coin. To encourage circulation, the size was to be reduced, the colour was to be changed, and the one-dollar note eliminated from circulation.The Voyageur design was to be used. However, a set of dies depicting the design was lost in transit.http://www.snopes.com/business/money/loonie.asp To eliminate the risk of counterfeiting, an alternate design, featuring a loon
Loon
The loons or divers are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia...
, was used. This became known as the loonie
Loonie
The Canadian 1 dollar coin is a gold-coloured, bronze-plated, one-dollar coin introduced in 1987. It bears images of a common loon, a bird which is common and well known in Canada, on the reverse, and of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.The design for the coin was meant to be a voyageur theme,...
.
Commemorative edition
In 2003, in special proof sets honouring the fiftieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth IICoronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the ceremony in which the newly ascended monarch, Elizabeth II, was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan, as well as taking on the role of Head of the Commonwealth...
, the Voyageur design was struck again in a limited edition of 30,000.