Twenty Five Cent Piece

The 25-cent piece of Canadian currency, also known as a quarter, has been in circulation since 1870. This coin was not actually part of the original currency of Canada when coins were first minted. In the beginning, coins were minted by the Royal Mint of London. Coins were created by the Royal Mint for fifty years before the Royal Canadian Mint was created for the nation.

In 1858, coins were minted by the Royal Mint for Canada which included a 20-cent piece. By 1870, the government of Canada decided to do away with the 20 cent piece and many were melted down to create the twenty-five cent piece which is still used today as a popular form of currency. The obverse side of the twenty-five cent piece has included the image of the reigning monarch at the time when the coin was created. The reverse side has changed through the years to depict varying imagines including maple boughs and a caribou.

Reverse Side Designs
From 1870 to 1936, the 25-cent piece did not change the reverse image. The crossed maple boughs were seen on this side of the coin and also appeared on 10-cent coins and 50-cent coins from 1858 to 1936.

From 1937 to 1972, 1974 to 1991, 1993, 1998 and 2001 to the present, the 25-cent piece featured the icon caribou design. This image was created by Emanuel Hahn and was put in place to try and modernize the look of coins in Canada.

In 1967, a centennial 25-cent coin was created by Alex Colville as part of the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. This coin has the image of a bobcat on the reverse side.

In 1973, the 25-cent piece was known as the RCMP centennial and was designed by Paul Cederberg. This coin was made in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

In 1992, several anniversary coins were created in honour of the 125th anniversary of the Confederation. The coins were designed based on a contest held nationally with an image used to represent every province and territory. Coins included:

Yukon
Northwest Territories
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland

In 1999, several more coins were created with the 25-cent piece by the Royal Canadian Mint. Known as the Millennium Collection, the coins were created as part of a Create a Centsation contest which saw the production of two series of 25-cent coins. The year 1999 was to commemorate the last 1,000 years. A different coin was created for every month of the year.

In the year 2000, the Royal Canadian Mint produced the second batch of the Create a Centsation contest which represented the hopes for the new millennium. This included:

Creativity
Freedom
Community
Wisdom
Family
Celebration
Pride
Health
Natural Legacy
Harmony
Achievement
Ingenuity

In 2002, a coin was created to represent Canada Day and the 135th anniversary. The design on the reverse was created by Judith Chartier. In 2004, two coins were created based on the 25-cent piece. The IIe Sainte-Croix was in representation of the 400th anniversary of the first French settlement of North America while the Poppy coin was the first to be in color in circulation.

2005 saw three coins created. The Saskatchewan Centennial which featured the Western Meadowlark along with the Alberta Centennial with the design of a landscape in Alberta. That year also saw the production of the Year of the Veteran coin which was designed by Elaine Goble showing veterans of two different generations. The 25-cent piece continues to be a popular denomination for commemorative issues and we will see many more to come. To purchase older Quarters or to keep up with new releases, Colonial Acres Coins is here to help.

Canadian 10 Cent Coin

The 10 cent coin is the next coin in line after the nickel in Canadian currency and is also known as a dime. The coin was first created for Canada in 1858 and is still in circulation today. The coin features the reigning royal monarch at the time of minting on the obverse side and includes various images on the reverse side based on the time period or a particular design. The coin is mainly known for the Bluenose schooner design created by Emanuel Hahn in 1937.

Reverse Side Designs
From 1858 to 1936, the 10 cent coin had an image of crossed maple boughs on the reverse side. The design actually was placed on the 10 cent, twenty five cent and fifty cent coins in this time period. From the years 1937 to 1966 and 1968 to present time, the ten cent piece featured The Bluenose a famous schooner design created by Emanuel Hahn, an artist from the 1930s. The design was created to symbolize the magnitude of the industry involving fishing as well as maritime skills of the countrymen.
In 1967, the ten cent coin had a unique design as the coin was a centennial creation. Alex Colville was busy that year creating commemorative coins of every denomination for the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. The coin features a mackerel on the reverse side. In 2001, Canada would see the creation of a ten cent piece known as the International Year of the Volunteer. This coin was created to honor the International Year of the Volunteer created by the United Nations. The coin is a tribute to the Canadians who help those who are in need.

Composition of the Ten Cent Coin
When the ten cent coin was first created, it was comprised of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This composition would remain in place from 1908 until the end of 1919. From 1920 to 1967, the coin would consist of 80% silver and 20% copper. By 1968 and continuing through 1999, the ten cent piece would be created from 99.9% nickel. The only changes in technical features during this time would be diameter and thickness. From 2000 to present, the ten cent coin has a composition of 92% steel, 5.5% copper and 2.5% nickel. The composition of the ten cent piece would change due to the time period with nickel not being used for some time due to war efforts.
The ten cent piece is a coin that is still found in circulation today. The coin can be highly collectible based on a number of factors including the rarity of the coin, grading and any imperfections. Coin collectors often have ten cent pieces in their collection from Canadian currency that can have a high monetary value. To learn more about ten cent pieces of Canada, search our database. We offer a wide selection of Canadian coins and can easily help you find the next edition to your collection. Look through our listings to find exactly what you are searching for!

Canadian 1 Cent Coin

In 1908 the Royal Canadian Mint began to strike the first 1 cent coin on Canadian Soil. Prior to 1908 our coins were all produced in England by either the Royal Mint or the Heaton Mint. The design would change over the years and 1 cent coins, or pennies would be created featuring the monarch at the time on the obverse side while the reverse would have a varying design depending on the year of issue. 2012 was the last year the penny was minted. The coin does remain legal tender but has been discontinued as currency.

The Maple Leaf Design
As with all Canadian coins minted from the confederation in 1858 to date, the penny depicts the maple leaf, a proud symbol of Canada. The design of the penny continued to use the maple leaf in various designs as new 1 cent coins were created.

From 1858 to 1920, the large penny’s with a diameter of 25.4mm featured the wreath of maple leaves on the reverse side which was a design created by L.C. Wyon. From 1911 to 1920, the penny featured a similar design on the reverse side by W.H.J. Blackmore which was a representation similar to Wyon’s design of wrapped maple leaves around a vine but included the word Canada above the words “One Cent”.

From 1920 to 1936, the small penny’s with a diameter of 19.05mm featured a design of double maple leaves, created by Fred Lewis. Time frames of 1937 to 1966, 1968 to 1981 and 1997 to present day, the coin featured a maple leaf twig. G.E. Kruger-Gray created this design which was a piece of the effort to bring into modern times the coinage of Canada. The initials of the designer appear on the right side of the design.

In 1967, the 1 cent coin was struck as a centennial coin. A special set of designs for coinage were created by Alex Colville to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. In this collection, the penny has a rock dove in flight on the reverse side.

From 1982 to 1996, the one cent coin was a 12 sided coin and had a maple leaf twig design. The shape of the twig was altered to provide better identification of the coin by those who were visually impaired. In 1997, the coin returned to its original round design.

Composition of the Coin
From 1908 to 1996, the 1 cent coin was comprised primarily of pure copper with traces of tin and zinc. By 1997, the coin included only zinc and copper plating and this would be the composition until 1999. From 2000 to present, the one cent coin was be created of steel in its majority plus nickel and copper plating.

One cent coins are highly collectible now that a complete set is obtainable for collectors to achieve. At Colonial Acres, we can help you find one cent coins to add to your collection or provide an appraisal for the penny coins you already have in your possession.

Gold, Silver & Copper Bullion

The term bullion refers to coins that are valued based on their gold or silver content rather than numeric value. Bullion coins are gold, silver and copper coins that are purchased for an investment. Numismatic coins are purchased to use as currency. A numismatic coin will have a value based on the type of coin it is such as a quarter or dime, which would be valued at twenty five cents and ten cents respectively. With bullion, the value is based on the weight in copper, silver or gold. Bullion has a weight in an even amount such as in ounces or grams.

In Canada, there are several bullion types that have great value based on the amount of gold, silver or copper creating the coin. Bullion is highly collectible and we carry options for purchase to help you invest or expand your collection. Below is a short history of bullion coins so you can understand how the bullion came to be.

The Beginning
Bullion in Canada began in the year 1908 when the Royal Canadian Mint of Ottawa struck their first coin. This coin was a gold sovereign with a large capital C which stood for the country of Canada. It was shortly after that when gold refining began in-house and by 1912, in the month of March, the Department of Finance had decided that the Mint would begin striking five-dollar gold coins, 8,000 in fact. The Mint would also be responsible for creating ten-dollar gold coins, with another 8,000 to be created. This was a big deal as the striking would mark the first time that Canada had created gold coins that had the word ‘Canada’ on them as well as the coat of arms for the country.

It was by 1979 that the Royal Mint decided to produce gold bullion. The first coin created was a $50 coin with a Gold Maple Leaf design with one ounce of gold. The coin was 99.9% pure and the Government guaranteed the coins purity as well as weight. This coin quickly became the most popular in the world when it came to pure gold content. This coin was introduced in 1982 to the public.

By 1988, the Royal Canadian Mint decided to work in silver and platinum. Collectors and investors began to take advantage of the new release of a Silver Maple Leaf bullion coin with 99.99% silver and a Platinum Maple Leaf bullion coin which had 99.95% platinum.

In 2005, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced a new bullion coin known as the Palladium Maple Leaf. This coin was a one-troy ounce bullion coin with 99.95% purity. The face value was $50 and limited quantities of the coin were produced.

Two years later in 2007, the Mint decided to create a pure gold bullion coin of 99.999% purity. This occurrence marked the only time a mint has issued a coin within the high standard of production. The coin, known as the Million Dollar Coin, was the largest coin of gold bullion to be introduced, at 100 kilogram .99999 pure gold in Maple Leaf design. The coin had a face value of $1 million and only five were produced.

To learn more about gold, silver and copper bullion, look no further. We specialize in bullion of all types and can help you find new items for your collection.

Canadian Paper Money

Canadian paper money also known as banknotes of the Canadian dollar are bills that are created in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations. The current notes for Canada are issued by the Bank of Canada and were released beginning with the first series in 1935. Below we will take a look at the many series of banknotes released in Canada from regular currency to commemorative notes.

1935 Series
This was the first series released by the Bank of Canada and was done the day they opened for business on March 11th of 1935. Two sets were produced, one in English and one in French. This series included: $25 Commemorative Note, $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000.

1937 The Bilingual Series
The second series created by the Bank of Canada, this series was prompted by the death of King George V who was abdicated by his son Edward VIII. The rear views of these notes remained relatively the same as the 1935 edition but there were changes in color as well as the placement of numbers. Notes of this series included: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $1,000.

1954 The Canadian Landscape Series
The Bank of Canada decided in the early fifties to commission Charles Comfort, a Canadian artists to create the next series of bank notes. These notes would look completely different and feature eight images in total with images of Canadian landscapes. This series included: $1 commemorative note, $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $1000.

1969-1979 Scenes of Canada Series
This series has color as the main feature with unique coloring included in the scenes of Canada. The details of the notes are beautiful and security features were created for this series that helped to make reproducing the notes very difficult. Most of the series also depicted the prime ministers of Canada. The series includes: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

1986 The Birds of Canada Series
The planning for this series had already begun by the Bank of Canada when the previous series was in production. Technology had advanced so security printers were used with this series to be able to create a more accurate color printing process. Reflective and color shifting patch was used to stop copies of currency from being made. Birds were featured on this series due to being politically neutral and simple visually. The following notes are included in this series: $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $1,000. This was the first series to not have a $1 note and the last to carry the $2 and $1,000 notes.

2001-2006 Canadian Journey Series
The Canadian Journey series was the first by the Bank of Canada to be designed completely by computer. Citizens of Canada also had a say so as to what subject would be depicted in the notes. It was decided that images showing values or achievements would be used on the following notes: $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

2011 to 2013 Polymer Series
The last series to be created as of late was the Polymer Series. This series was create by using a substrate known as polypropylene. This type of currency has a security feature that is unlike anything else. The unique material cannot be copied and offers a new range of security and design for the currency. In this series, it includes: $20 commemorative note, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

Royal Canadian Mint

The Royal Canadian Mint is the group responsible for producing all circulation coins of Canada as well as manufacturing circulation coins for many other nations. The Mint is a Canadian Crown corporation and is in operation based on the Royal Canadian Mint Act. Understanding the role of the Royal Canadian Mint allows coin collectors to see where it all started. Coins have been created within the Mint since it was established on January 2nd 1908. The company is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and there are currently three locations of which the Mint operates.

Early Beginnings
The Royal Canadian Mint began after Canada became their own nation. When this happened, more coinage was needed. Before the Royal Canadian Mint was created, coins were minted for Canada at the Royal Mint of London. The Royal Mint eventually gave authorization for a facility to be built in Ottawa in 1901 after it was first proposed in 1890. The Canadian Mint was born in 1908, many years after approval was given.
It was not until 1960 that a second facility was mentioned. N.A. Parker held the role as the Master of Mint and Parker told the Minister of Finance that a second facility was needed as the Ottawa branch had reached capacity. It was not until 1976 that a second facility would open in Winnipeg.

Circulation of Canadian Coins
The core mandate of the Royal Canadian Mint is to produce as well as manage the distribution of circulation coinage for Canada. The Mint must also provide advice to the Minister of Finance as they see fit on the subject of coinage. With today’s operations, as many as two billion circulation coins for Canada are struck every year at the facility located in Winnipeg.

For Canadian coins, the effigy of the reigning monarch is placed on each coin. This has been so since the Mint began in 1908 with the image placed on the obverse side. On the reverse, designs have changed over the years to depict varying images from animals to objects. New commemorative designs are introduced from time to time to celebrate the history, values or culture of Canada.

Visit the Mint
If you have an interest in learning how Canadian coinage is made or collect coins, you would enjoy visiting the Royal Canadian Mint. Tour the facility in Ottawa or Winnipeg, even Vancouver, viewing the latest collections of gold and silver coins. Interactive guided tours are offered at each facility where you can view displays of coins as well as get a behind-the-scenes look at the facilities used to create coinage. Visit the boutique when finished with the tour to shop for gifts, souvenirs, collector coins and more.

At Colonial Acres, we specialize in Canadian coinage and can help you learn more about the Royal Canadian Mint. Stay on top of the latest coins releases or let us help you find new and exciting coins from the Mint to add to your vast coin collection.

Canada Decimal Coins

The term Canada decimal coins refers to coinage created based on the Canadian dollar. There are six categories of decimal coins in Canada that are currently in production; the five cent, ten cent, twenty five cent, one dollar and two dollar coins. One cent coins are no longer in production but are highly sought after collectible items in the coin industry.

Each coin is named after the value. For example, a five cent piece would have a value of five cents. However, in real life, the coins are known as nickel, dime and quarter. The dollar and two dollar coin are often referred to as the loonie and toonie respectively. As far as the penny or one cent piece coin of Canada, this piece was discontinued in 2012.

The One Cent Coin

The Canadian one cent coin is no longer in circulation but can be a collector’s item. The coin has a diameter of 19.05 mm and a thickness of 1.45mm with a composition of 94% steel, 1.5% nickel and 4.5% copper plating. The 1920 to 1981 coin as well as the 1997 to the 2012 coin had a plain edge while the 1982 to 1996 minted coin had a 12 sided edge. On the obverse side, the image of Queen Elizabeth II is depicted while the reverse side shows a Maple Leaf.

Five Cent Piece

The five cent piece or the nickel is plain in edging but was formerly created with a 12 sided edge. The coin has a diameter of 21.2 mm with a thickness of 1.76 mm. The coin is composed of 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper and 2% nickel plating. On the obverse side the coin has an image of Queen Elizabeth II while the reverse side shows the symbol of a beaver.

Ten Cent Piece

The ten cent piece or dime is created of a different composition than the penny and nickel with 92% steel, 5.5% copper, 2.5% nickel plating. The coin has milled siding and features an image of Queen Elizabeth II on the Obverse side and the Bluenose on the Reverse. The Bluenose is a schooner used for fishing and racing constructed in 1921 in Nova Scotia. The ship was under the command of Angus Walters and became an icon of the region and symbol of Canada in the 1930s.

Twenty Five Cent Piece

The twenty five cent piece or quarter is comprised of 94% steel, 3.8% copper and 2.2% nickel plating with 23.88 mm in diameter and 1.58 mm in thickness. The sides of the coin are milled and the obverse side shows an image of Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse side has a caribou, an animal commonly found in North America.

Fifty Cent Piece

The fifty cent piece of Canada is a coin with 1.95 mm in thickness with 27.13 mm in diameter. The coin is comprised of 93.15% steel, 4.75% copper and 2.1% nickel plating. The coin has milled edges and features Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side, a common theme with Canadian coinage. The reverse side depicts an image of the Canadian Coat of Arms which is the official coat of arms for the Canadian monarch.

One Dollar Coin

As far as the one dollar coin is concerned, there are two types. The first is comprised of 99.9% nickel. This coin has the image of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the Voyageurs in a Canoe on the reverse. This coin is known as the Voyageur or the Silver Dollar. The second coin is known as the Loonie which is comprised of 91.5% nickel, 8.5% bronze. This coin has Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side and the common loon the reverse, hence the name Loonie.

Two Dollar Coin

The two dollar coin is comprised of 99% nickel within the ring of the coin and 92% copper, 6% aluminum and 2% nickel in the center. The coin comes in two forms, both having Queen Elizabeth on the obverse and one having a polar bear on the reverse side while the second has a polar bear with two security features on the reverse.
This is just the basis of Canada decimal coins and a starting point for coin collectors.

What Is A Coin Auction? How Does It Work?

If you are interested in starting a coin collection and have begun researching the subject, you may have heard the term coin auction. A coin auction is a wonderful resource when it comes to collecting coins of all type including Canadian coins. Auctions can be attended in person or found online, offering up unique coins that you can purchase to add to your collection. Learn more about coin auctions including how they work to use the resource to your advantage.

What is a Coin Auction?

A coin auction can be conducted by an individual or an auction house. The auction will include a coin or several coins that will be placed up for bid. Individuals interested in the cash can then place bids based on how much they are willing to pay. Coins can have a starting price and even a reserve. The reserve means that the coin must hit a specific price before it will be sold. If the owner of the coin has decided to list the item up for auction, they may only offer it up if they can earn a certain amount. If the amount is not reached, the seller can choose to sell to the highest bidder or take the item off the market.

Coin auctions are a great way to find unique coins for your collection. Auctions can be based around a theme such as Canadian coins or coins from a specific time period. When an auction is announced, information will be provided online or in person about each item. You will be able to read a description of the coin and look at it in person or online to get a visual. After looking at this information, you can make an informed decision as to if you would like to bid.

How Does the Auction Work?

Depending on the type of auction you are taking part in, the process will be different. If you are at an auction house looking at coins, you will have a number that will be used to bid. The coin will come up for bid and the auctioneer will take bids at a very fast pace until the bidding stops. The highest bid wins the coin. During online auctions, there is a certain time frame set for the auction. You have until the time is up to place a bid. If you are the final bidder, then you win the coin. After paying, the coin is yours to add to your collection.

Auctions are easy to get the hang of once you have seen one in action, be it online or in person. If you collect coins, coin auctions are a great resource for adding to your collection as you can make purchases at wholesale prices. With the help of the internet, you can search for auctions locally or specific coin types up for bid in an online auction.

To view coin auctions or to find out more about coin collecting, visit the website of Colonial Acres Coins. Here you will find all the information needed to begin collecting, have your collection appraised or find new coins to add to your collection.

How The Latest Trends In Technology Affected Coin Shops

Coin shops are located around the world and offer individuals with the option to purchase currency that is collectible or considered rare. Coin collectors often visit such shops in search of new coins to add to their collection. Coin collecting is thought to be a thing of the past but many people still enjoy collecting coins, be it actual currency or commemorative coins. It is interesting to consider the latest trends in technology and how coin shops could be affected. Will coin collecting remain a popular past time as technology continues to evolve and change?

Unique Ways to Pay
The younger generation are not so concerned about coins and paper money as they have newer ways to pay. PayPal has become a top option for the younger generation to pay for items when shopping or even for work. PayPal is an online payment service that you connect to your bank account. Money can be transferred and payments made, in a secure manner, making PayPal a top choice for financial transactions.

Bitcoin is another digital option but is an actual currency type. Bitcoin has a value that is constantly changing and consumers can purchase bitcoin at a specific rate and then use the currency to make purchases online. Both of these ways to pay are very different from the standard coins and paper currency. While these options are popular, the Royal Canadian Mint and the US Mint are not going to stop creating currency. As coins continue to be minted, collectors will continue to have options to add to their collection.

So while the digital payment methods are becoming more popular with consumers, there will still be coins created and options for collectors to take advantage of. So while the ways we pay for things change, coins will continue to exist and be collectible for a number of reasons.

Older Generation Passes on Their Hobby
Coin collecting is something that many in the older generations enjoy. As the seniors collect coins, they share their collections with young people. As long as the older generation continues to pass on their hobby of coin collecting, the industry will continue to be strong. Surprisingly, the numismatic industry is a million dollar one that continues to see high value coins bought and sold on a regular basis.

As long as the interest remains, technology can continue to change and the coin industry will not be affected. As the years go by, coins will only gain in value as the history becomes older. Even if physical currency was done away with completely, it would still be interesting to hold coins in the hand, seeing the small intricacies and beauty that each coin contains.

Find out more about coin collecting and the most collectible coins by visiting the website of Colonial Acres Coins. The experts at Colonial Acres can assist you with adding coins to your collection, finding rare coins for your collection or appraising coins you already own. Contact the site today to use the many resources available to your advantage.

How To Ensure Coin Collection Continues With Future Generations

When you have a coin collection, it is something that you enjoy and want to share with others. Often times, you find yourself talking about your collection with family members and friends. Perhaps you have found that your children or grandchildren are also interested in coin collecting. As you create a valuable investment with your coin collection, it is important to teach future generations about coin collecting, how they can enjoy it as well as how they can make decisions to carry on the tradition of coin collecting.

Start Young
As you enjoy your coin collection, be sure to share it with young people in your family. Whether it be your children or grandchildren, show them your collection at a young age. When children are in school, they will begin to learn about currency and you can show them your collecting, highlighting unique coins or those that might be worth money due to imperfections or rarity. By showing your collection to the youngsters, you can ignite a passion for coins in them that will last a lifetime.
Talk about your collection often and as the child ages, explain how more coins are added to the collection to create even more value. Discuss the different factors involved in coin collecting from grading to imperfections, so the child can learn what to look for when viewing coins. As the child ages, they can learn how important the collection is and perhaps find rare and unique coins to search for to add to the collection.

Insuring Your Collection
To keep your coin collection safe, you should think about insurance. Whenever you have something of value, it should be insured to maintain the value as well as have a form of protection in place. Imagine if you did not have your coin collection insured and it was stolen. How much would it cost to replace? Many people have coin collections that are worth thousands of dollars or even tens of thousands or more. To keep your collection going for future generations, it is essential that you have your collection insured for protection purposes.

Passing Your Collection Along
If you have a family member you wish to give your collection to, talk to them about it. Make sure they want your collection and have the same passion for coins as you do. It can also be a good idea to have a will in place that dictates who will receive your collection once you pass away. Because coin collections can be of great value, you do not want fights to break out over who should take over your collection. While some may want the collection for the monetary value, you want to see the coins go to someone who appreciates their beauty and uniqueness. Meet with a lawyer to draw up plans naming who will receive your collection so it can continue through the generations.

To learn more about coin collections and their value, visit the website of Colonial Acres Coins. The company has great experience in coins and can provide appraisals along with auction options for finding new coins to help your collection continue to grow.