8 Most Valuable Canadian Coins Worth Money
Are you interested in collecting coins from the Great White North?
Whether you are a Canadian, traveller or avid coin collector, you will find Canadian coins quite exciting due to their rich history, aesthetic appeal and affordability, even for the new hobbyist.
In this article, you will find a list of the most valuable Canadian coins. As you will discover, rare and error-type coins tend to fetch the most. Finding these special gems, however, requires time, patience, and a bit of luck.
So, let’s jump in and discover the most valuable Canadian coins released into circulation and those made especially for collectors.
Most Valuable Canadian Coins Worth Money
1. 1911 Canadian Silver Dollar
The 1911 silver dollar is one of the most important coins in Canada’s history and has been the world’s most expensive coin for many years.
The Canadian Royal Mint only struck three examples for unexplained reasons. These included two silver dollars and one bronze dollar.
Hobbyists, coin enthusiasts and history buffs can find one of the silver and bronze coins struck in 1911 at the Currency Museum in Ottawa. The only remaining coin was one silver, snatched up at a 2003 auction for about 1 million dollars.
Technically, there are no more 1911 Canadian silver dollars in circulation, collector’s rolls, or home banks, making this coin extremely rare and impossible to find.
2. 1936 Dot 1 Cent
The 1936 dot coins are popular among collectors because of their interesting history. Toward the end of 1936, King VIII unexpectedly renounced his throne, which saw GeorgeVII take over as king.
The Canadian Royal Mint did not have dies with King George VII’s portrait to make new coins in 1937. Therefore the Mint decided to strike a few coins with the 1936 date and a small raised dot underneath the date to show that the new coins featuring King George VII were actually struck in 1937.
Ultimately, only the 1, 10 and 25-cent pieces coins were struck with the distinguishing dot. The rarest of these three is the 1-cent dot coin; only three examples are known to exist in gem condition.
In 2010, one 1-cent coin example of the 1936 dot variety was sold for a whopping $400,000.
Only three denominations were struck with the “dot.” These are 25-cents, 10-cents and 1-cent pieces. The 1936 “dot” 1-cent coin is the rarest of them all, with only three mint state examples known to exist. One example sold at a 2010 coin auction for over $400,000!
3. 1969 Large Date 10-Cents
The 1960 large date 10-cent coin is among the rarest and most valuable Canadian coins. As mentioned, errors can drastically increase the value of Canadian dollars, and the 1969 large date error is one such example.
The error occurred when mint workers used dies with a large date to strike some 1969 Canadian 10-cent coins.
On the obverse is the image of a sailboat with the date appearing on the left. Regular 1969 10-cent coins have a small date, so if you notice a significantly large date, you probably have a valuable error coin. Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait appears on the reverse. Only 20 examples have been graded. When these rare pieces appear on auction, they can fetch as much as $10,000, but this figure can increase to $25,000 depending on the coin’s grade.
4. 1948 King George VI Coin
The current Canadian dollar, also known as a loonie, was introduced into circulation in 1987.
Before that, the dollar comprised 80% silver and featured King George on the Obverse while two men paddling a canoe appeared on the reverse.
The 1948 King George dollar is rare, and its silver content adds value. One such example was sold for $1,600 at a Heritage auction.
5. 1872 Newfoundland Two Dollar Coin
The various provinces all had their separate coinage before joining the Confederation. These early coins are exceptionally old and, therefore, quite valuable, depending on the coin’s grade.
The 1872 Newfoundland two-dollar coin was minted before the province joined Canada, making it a key date. Most of these coins will be in a low circulated grade, but if you find one graded About Uncirculated, it might be worth some good money.
These old coins can fetch as much as $400 in lower circulated grades, but this amount can increase to as high as $1,200, depending on the grade.
6. 1918 King George V 5-cent coin
Under King George’s rule, the British Royal Mint struck 5-cent coins in fine, sterling silver. The coin’s composition changed to pure silver in 1858 under the reign of Queen Victoria. Nicknamed ”fish scale,” the 5-cent coin was small with a shiny surface and the pride of many Canadians.
Many years later, in 1922, the Mint changed the coin’s metal composition again owing to inflation and high silver prices. Nickel replaced silver, and the 5-cent coin was redesigned into a larger, chunkier coin.
As you might expect, the George V 5-cent coin is extremely rare; you will hardly find it in circulation. The coin’s silver composition also led to hoarding, which removed many of these coins from circulation.
While the 1918 King George V 5-cent coin may not fetch thousands of dollars, this old coin has been sold for as much as $250 at auctions, which is many times more than its face value.
7. 1957 Queen Elizabeth II Dollar
The 1957 Queen Elizabeth II dollar draws considerable interest among collectors fascinated by the “missing dress strap’’ error.
A close look at the coin will reveal some wear and tear around the queen’s dress strap, making it seem like the strap is missing.
This small yet peculiar error adds significant value to this modern loonie, with examples selling for up to $12,000 in AU58.
8. $1 million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
The Gold Maple Leaf coin takes the throne as the most valuable Canadian coin. In 2007, this gold coin was actioned for $5 million in 2010.
The Mint struck only six examples of the coin, which weighs an astounding 100 kilograms and measures 50 centimetres in diameter. The obverse design features a crownless Queen Elizabeth II, while a modernized maple leaf appears on the reverse.
The Royal Canadian Mint struck six Gold Maple Leaf coins and sold them to private individuals. One of the private buyers, Boris Fuchsmann, lent his coin to the Bode Museum in Germany, but someone stole the coin from the Museum. The thief’s identity and the coin’s whereabouts remain unknown despite several suspects being arrested.
Summary
Canadian coinage has a long and varied history, which makes collecting the country’s coins all the more interesting. The best coins to pay attention to are rare, such as those discontinued or hoarded in large numbers. The 1921 King George 5-cent and half-dollar coins are a good example of rare coins now among the most valuable Canadian coins.