A Guide to Canadian Coin Collecting

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Written By Natasha Jones
I'm Natasha Jones, an avid collector of coins, stamps, and paper money.My passion drives me to seek unique finds, from antique shops to international exchanges.I enjoy connecting with fellow collectors through forums and meet-ups, sharing discoveries and insights.

If you’ve been collecting coins for a while and want to collect something different. Then why not collect Canadian coins?

This article will discuss what Canadian coins are worth collecting and where to look for them.

We’ll also review some examples of significant collections that might inspire your coin-collecting journey!

Canadian Coin Collecting:

Are Canadian Coins Worth Collecting?

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Yes, absolutely! Collecting Canadian coins can be a worthwhile investment.

Coins have been minted by the Canadian government since 1908 and are still being produced today.

Folks, you can locate them in your change, bankrolls, or mint sets from the Royal Canadian Mint.

It’s easy to collect them because they come in different sizes, ranging from 1 cent to $2 – so there’s something for everyone!

You can also purchase coin holders that exhibit your collection while safeguarding it simultaneously.

Well, you can find a variety of designs on Canadian coins, depending on their value. Some even have designs on both sides!

Furthermore, we release yearly special editions that showcase distinct feature artwork on every occasion.

What Canadian Coins Should I Collect?

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You may be interested to know that various types of coins are available for collection, some of which are not limited to Canada.

Canada may not be as ancient as some other nations, but it boasts a fascinating past and a plethora of captivating coins.

The Royal Canadian Mint produces coins for everyday transactions and collector’s items for purchase by the public.

They also produce collector’s edition sets with only one or two examples available each year.

These are sold directly through their website or at special events like coin shows held throughout the year across Canada (and sometimes even further abroad).

Where to Buy Canadian Coins?

There are a few different ways that you can go about buying Canadian coins:

  • Buy Them From a Reputable Dealer
    • The safest way to purchase Canadian coins is by ensuring their authenticity and avoiding counterfeit ones, so I suggest finding a reputable dealer online and checking their customer reviews before purchasing!
  • Buy Them From a Coin Shop
    • You may find these on eBay or Amazon and in physical locations near you. But be cautious with auction sites because you can get scammed by others. The best way to avoid getting scammed is to check the seller’s profile, reviews, and past transactions. This way, you can be assured that they are credible sources.
  • Buy Them From an Online Dealer
    • We have Bullion Exchanges Canada and the Royal Numismatic Society of Canada (RNSCC). These two websites have existed for quite some time now and have earned a reputation for vending genuine products at affordable rates, coupled with top-notch customer service. However, it’s worth noting that this comes at a price, as shipping costs can be quite steep when purchasing large quantities of coins, owing to the weight restrictions imposed by airlines during international flights!

Examples of Canadian Coins Worth Collecting

Collectors seek after Canadian coins with even the tiniest errors in their minting. Minting coins is one of the rare industries in which collectors can highly seek after flaws.

Some other coins were made in limited quantities, so they’re quite scarce these days.

Furthermore, it should be noted that certain coins were crafted from valuable materials such as gold or silver, resulting in their scarcity as the majority were melted down for their metal worth. Here are some of the best Canadian coins to collect:

Canadian Silver Nickel

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Before 1922, the Mint made Canadian nickels using “coin silver” (800 parts silver) or sterling silver (925 parts silver). The last of these coins were minted in nineteen twenty-one.

Over the years, many of the coins have been melted by people due to their high silver content. They are now extremely rare. You must get a coin appraised before buying it since these coins are frequently counterfeited.

1936 Canadian “Dot” Dime

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Ladies and gentlemen, the “dot” dime of 1936 have fetched an impressive $184,000 at auction, making it another highly sought-after collector’s coin. So, we have a dime that was minted back in 1937.

Interestingly, the dot you see on it was added to the design used in 1936. There are very few of these coins that exist, maybe only five.

Currently, they are valued between CAD 144,500 and CAD 245,000.

1921 50-Cent Piece

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The “King of Canadian Coins.” This 50-cent piece is extremely rare, and only 50-100 are believed to be in circulation.

In 1921, a considerable amount of these coins were produced, but only a small fraction made it into circulation.

Most of them melted down to make the later versions of the 50-cent piece. Can you believe it?

The remaining coins are incredibly rare. 2010 one was sold at an auction for a whopping CAD 218,500!

I must inform you that the current value of uncirculated 1921 50-cent coins ranges from CAD 104,500 to CAD 335,400.

Victoria 50-Cent Piece in Near-Mint Condition

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It’s important to remember that even though a considerable amount of 50-cent coins with Queen Victoria’s image were produced in the late 1800s, only a small number remain in mint or near-mint condition.

Nowadays, these immaculate specimens command top dollar at auctions.

Well folks, if you happen to have an 1899 Victoria 50-cent coin in your possession, you may be interested to know that its current value ranges from CAD 103 to CAD 50,150.

1911 Canadian Silver Dollar

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The 1911 Canadian silver dollar held the world’s most valuable coin.

Only two Canadian silver dollars were struck, and one is currently housed at the Canadian Currency Museum in Ottawa.

We have only one 1911 Canadian silver dollar for collectors. So, in 2019, it was sold to a private collector for $552,000.

At a previous sale, this coin was sold for one million sixty-six thousand dollars.

Before you go…

If you are interested in collecting Canadian coins, there are many options. You can start with the most common coins and then branch out into other areas, such as rare coins or errors found within the average circulation of these coins.

Check out my next article: “The Ultimate Canadian Coin Collector Checklist!

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