Coins of the Canadian dollar

Coins of the Canadian dollar are produced by the Royal Canadian Mint for everyday payments, savings, and collecting. Standard circulation denominations are 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, $1 (the loonie) and $2 (the toonie); a 50-cent piece is struck mainly for collectors and appears rarely in circulation. The 1-cent coin was withdrawn from circulation in 2012. Coins complement Bank of Canada notes in Canada’s cash system.

At a glance — Coins of the Canadian dollar

Issuer / manufacturer	Royal Canadian Mint (Ottawa & Winnipeg facilities)
Circulating denominations	5¢ • 10¢ • 25¢ • $1 (loonie) • $2 (toonie); 50¢ is issued mainly for collectors
Composition (current, typical)	Multi-ply plated steel for 5¢/10¢/25¢/50¢; $1 brass-plated steel (11-sided); $2 bi-metallic (nickel-plated steel ring, aluminum-bronze core)
Standard obverse	Effigy of the reigning monarch (King Charles III on new issues; earlier coins: Queen Elizabeth II)
Rounding rule	Cash totals round to the nearest 5¢ when pennies are not used (electronic payments are not rounded)
Official sites	mint.ca • bankofcanada.ca (currency education)

Overview

Canada’s coinage system is designed for durability, security, and efficient cash handling. Modern multi-ply plated steel technology reduces costs and improves counterfeit resistance, while distinctive shapes, edges, and designs aid quick recognition at tills.

Current circulating designs

Denomination	Standard reverse design	Obverse	Shape / edge	Composition (current)	Notes / nickname
5 cents	Beaver on a rock	Monarch effigy	Round; plain edge	Multi-ply plated steel (nickel finish)	—
10 cents	Bluenose schooner	Monarch effigy	Round; reeded edge	Multi-ply plated steel (nickel finish)	—
25 cents	Caribou	Monarch effigy	Round; reeded edge	Multi-ply plated steel (nickel finish)	Frequent commemoratives (some colour)
50 cents	Canada’s Coat of Arms	Monarch effigy	Round; reeded edge	Multi-ply plated steel	Scarce in daily change; mainly for collectors
$1	Common loon on water	Monarch effigy	11-sided (hendecagonal); plain edge	Brass-plated steel	“Loonie” introduced 1987
$2	Polar bear	Monarch effigy	Bi-metallic ring/core; segmented reeding	Nickel-plated steel ring; aluminum-bronze core	“Toonie” introduced 1996; enhanced security on recent issues

About nicknames

• Loonie — named after the loon on the reverse of the $1 coin.
• Toonie — a play on “two-dollar loonie”; newer issues include advanced anti-counterfeiting elements.

Commemorative circulation coins

Canada regularly issues special designs that circulate alongside standard motifs. Examples include:

• **Poppy quarter (2004 and later variants):** first widely released colourized circulation coin.
• **Vancouver 2010 Olympic/Paralympic series:** multiple 25¢ designs.
• **$1 Terry Fox (2005)** and other national-heritage themes.
• **Canada 150 (2017):** colour and glow-in-the-dark $2 and special 25¢/$1 designs.

Commemoratives are legal tender like regular coins and often become casual collectibles.

Composition and security (modern era)

• **Multi-ply plated steel:** a thin layer system over steel that improves wear, enables precise electromagnetic signatures for vending/parking meters, and deters counterfeiting.
• **$2 bi-metallic construction:** a mechanically locked ring and core; recent issues add micro-engraving and other covert/latent features.
• **Edge and shape cues:** reeding vs plain edges, and the loonie’s 11-sided shape, assist sorting and accessibility.

Rounding and the penny’s withdrawal

The 1-cent coin was withdrawn from circulation in 2012 to reduce costs. When paying **cash**, the final total (after taxes) is rounded to the nearest 5¢ (e.g., .01/.02 → .00; .03/.04 → .05). **Electronic payments** (debit/credit) are settled to the exact cent with no rounding.

Historical notes

• **Silver era:** Dimes, quarters, and half-dollars were silver for much of their history (commonly 80% silver) before a transition to lower silver content in 1967–68 and base-metal issues thereafter.
• **Nickel era:** For decades, many coins—especially 5¢—were struck in solid nickel; modern issues use plated steel.
• **Loonie and toonie:** The $1 coin (1987) replaced the $1 note; the bi-metallic $2 coin (1996) replaced the $2 note in circulation.
• **Fifty-cent piece:** Still legal tender, but produced mostly for collectors and rarely seen in tills.

Mint marks, privy marks, and finishes

• Mint marks: Standard Canadian circulation coins typically have no mint mark. Select collector or special issues may display a W (Winnipeg) or other marks.
• Privy/security elements: Some coins carry small commemorative or security marks; details vary by issue.
• Finishes: Circulation coins are struck for durability; numismatic versions may appear in proof, specimen, colourized, or selectively plated finishes (see Royal Canadian Mint).

Collecting and care

Coins are best stored in inert holders (e.g., Mylar flips, capsules) in a dry environment. Avoid cleaning—abrasives and chemicals reduce numismatic value. The Bank of Canada Museum and the Royal Canadian Mint offer education on coin history and authentication basics.

See also

• Canadian dollar • Royal Canadian Mint • Bank of Canada
• Bank of Canada Museum • Parks Canada (federal attractions near Mint sites)

External links (official)

• Royal Canadian Mint — Circulation coins: https://www.mint.ca/
• Bank of Canada — Currency education & rounding guidance: https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/
• Royal Canadian Mint — Tours (Ottawa & Winnipeg): https://www.mint.ca/en/discover/tours