Canada Coins

Maple Leaf

Perhaps the most recognizable releases from the Royal Canadian Mint is their Gold and Silver Maple Leaf bullion series, which are released every year. The Gold Maple Leaf was first struck in 1979 and is currently one of the leading gold bullion coins in the world. The Silver Maple Leaf followed in 1988.

As an innovator in numismatics, the Royal Canadian Mint puts the best technology has to offer into innovating their traditional coins series as well as generating new releases. Since 2014, both Gold and Silver Maple Leaf coins have had laser engraved micro-maple leaf additions added on their reverse. Radial lines were also added that make the coin series hard to counterfeit, ensuring the authenticity of the actual releases from the Mint. The Gold Maple Leaf was the first-ever gold bullion coin to achieve this purity level, but not until 1982 when the series transitioned from .999 fine gold to .9999 fine gold. The Royal Canadian Mint would go on to strike special edition Gold Maple Leafs with a record .99999 fine purity.

A Stunning Voyageurs Release

In 2017, The Royal Canadian Mint issued a one-ounce silver Voyageurs coin honoring the French Canadians who traveled by canoe peddling furs over long distances. The following year, the mint released a lesser known 1 kg piece that is even more stunning. Mintage of the antiqued coin, which was the first-ever concave oval issue from the mint, was capped at just 400 pieces. This exclusive issue is available at GovMint.com, but only for customers who call-in to place their orders.

The Royal Canadian Mint is synonymous with Canadian coinage, both circulating and collectible. Known for their constant innovation of minting techniques along with supremely high standards for quality, the Royal Canadian Mint is one of the most renowned Mints in the world. Releases from the Great White North are characterized by truly impressive metal content and intricate designs that keep collectors coming back for more. As a member of the British Commonwealth, most of the coins from the Royal Canadian Mint show portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as she is the official Head of State of Canada. Known for its Gold and Silver Canadian Maple Leafs, the Mint regularly strikes coins on a wide variety of themes. These themes range from natural scenery and animals to sports and historic figures and events. No extensive coin collection should be without at least one issue from Canada and their premier Mint. Keep reading to learn more about this global numismatic giant and to add a little bit of the Great White North to your collection.

Collectible Canadian Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint produces limited-mintage numismatic collector coins honoring the major national achievements and themes of Canada. Each coin is individually handled as they enter the presses and are crafted of fine gold, silver, or platinum. A single Canadian coin may be struck up to three times to achieve the crisp, flawless impression the Royal Canadian Mint strives for. Certain coins even feature the Mint's proprietary, innovative technologies of double holograms, selective plating, coloring, or laser enhancement. Though every Canadian collector coin bears a denomination, they are not minted for circulation; in fact, their actual worth is usually significantly greater than their face value.

What Are Canadian Coins Called?

Aside from the basic quarter, dime, nickel, and penny, the Canadian dollar and two-dollar coin have very different names than one in the states might expect: the Loonie and Toonie.

The Loonie (one dollar) is called this because it features a picture of a loon, the national bird of Canada. The Loonie is a large coin made of gold-colored nickel which replaced the Canadian one-dollar bill in the 1980s. 

The Toonie or Twoonie (two dollars) is a distinct Canadian coin made of two different colors of metal that replaced the old two-dollar bill in the mid-nineties. This coin has a polar bear on it.

Canadian Maple Leaf Coins

Perhaps the most recognizable releases from the Royal Canadian Mint is their Gold and Silver Maple Leaf bullion series, which are released every year. The Gold Maple Leaf was first struck in 1979 and is currently one of the leading gold bullion coins in the world. The Silver Maple Leaf followed in 1988.

As an innovator in numismatics, the Royal Canadian Mint puts the best technology has to offer into innovating their traditional coins series as well as generating new releases. Since 2014, both Gold and Silver Maple Leaf coins have had laser engraved micro-maple leaf additions added on their reverse. Radial lines were also added that make the coin series hard to counterfeit, ensuring the authenticity of the actual releases from the Mint. The Gold Maple Leaf was the first-ever gold bullion coin to achieve this purity level, but not until 1982 when the series transitioned from .999 fine gold to .9999 fine gold. The Royal Canadian Mint would go on to strike a special edition Gold Maple Leafs with a record .99999 fine purity.

Canadian Peace Dollar

The nation of Canada is widely known for its dedication to peace. That commitment and legacy have been handed down and cherished by each new generation of Canadians. From the efforts of Lester B. Pearson in his capacity as Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs, the very first UN peacekeeping force was organized in 1957. Pearson was then awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, helping solidify Canada's reputation as a peacekeeping nation.

Over 100 years ago, in 1921, the U.S. Mint issued the first Peace Dollar designed by Anthony de Francisci and struck as a .900 fine silver coin to celebrate peace after the First World War. 

The reverse design of the Canadian Peace Dollar features the profile of Lady Peace, crowned with maple leaves. Lady Peace made her first appearance on the 2019 Peace and Liberty medal and has since become an iconic fixture on Canada’s annual Peace Dollar. Her crown of maple leaves and olive branches is a symbolic representation of the core Canadian values of peace, order, and good government. Her visage is accompanied by the Latin word for peace (PAX), mint year, and Canada's national motto, "A MARI USQUE AD MARE" (From Sea to Sea). The obverse, like most of Canada’s coins, features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.

A Stunning Voyageurs Release

In 2017, The Royal Canadian Mint issued a one-ounce silver Voyageurs coin honoring the French Canadians who traveled by canoe peddling furs over long distances. The following year, the mint released a lesser known 1 kg piece that is even more stunning. Mintage of the antiqued coin, which was the first-ever concave oval issue from the mint, was capped at just 400 pieces.

Where Can I Buy Canadian Mint Coins?

GovMint.com is one of the largest collectible coin marketers in the United States and is a proud dealer of Canadian Mint Coins. Besides a wide selection of scarce and hard-to-find U.S. and worldwide government issue coins, GovMint.com offers many other collectible products including paper money, ancient coins, and specialized numismatic services.

GovMint.com is an authorized dealer for coins that are authenticated, certified, and graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).  We also have a licensed product partnership with the Smithsonian where a portion of the sale proceeds of officially-licensed products goes to support the chartered educational purposes of the National Numismatic Collection housed in Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.