Canadian Commemorative Silver Dollars
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King George V Commemorative Silver Dollar
To celebrate the 25th year of the reign of King George V, the Royal Canadian Mint produced the 1935 Silver Jubilee Commemorative dollar. This coin is historic in two ways: 1) it is Canada's first silver dollar minted for circulation; and 2) it is the first commemorative coin minted by the Dominion of Canada. A total of 428,707 Silver Jubilee dollars were minted which includes an unrecorded number of higher quality Specimen Strikes.
The 1935 Canada silver dollar
features the image of George V wearing the Imperial State Crown
and coronation robe on the obverse. Around the rim appear the
Latin words GEORGIVS V REX IMPERATOR ANNO REGNI XXV
which translates to "George V King Emperor 25th Year of Reign".
Click on either image for a larger view.
The reverse of this coin is
known as the Voyageur Reverse. It features the figures of a
voyageur (French word for traveler) and Native American paddling
their canoe past a treed island with the northern lights in the
background (the Voyageur Reverse was used on most Canadian silver
dollars minted from 1935 through 1966).
Canadian dollars minted from 1935 through 1967 are 80% silver and
20% copper. Silver content is .600 troy ounces although a well
worn coin will contain less. To
determine the intrinsic (silver melt) value of a 1935-1967
Canadian dollar multiply .6 times the current spot price
of silver.
Example: CAD $40.00 x .6 = $24.00
1935 Silver Jubilee dollars are not that rare and in the lower grades of Fine (F) and Very Fine (VF) are not worth much more than their intrinsic value plus a small premium. Those most valuable will be in the upper uncirculated grades of Mint State 65 (MS-65) and higher. Specimen Strikes of this dollar, if kept in their original condition, are quite valuable with an SP-65 graded coin worth approximately 100 times its intrinsic value.
King George VI Commemorative Silver Dollars
With the death of King George V in January of 1936 and the abdication by Edward VIII in December of 1936, George VI ascended to the throne. His image appeared on Canada's dollar and other silver coins beginning in 1937 and continued through 1952, the year of his death.
During his reign, two commemorative silver dollars were struck:
the 1939 Royal Visit Silver Dollar and the 1949 Newfoundland
Silver Dollar. Here are the details on these two Canadian coins.
1939 Royal Visit Commemorative Dollar
This 1939 commemorative silver dollar features the image of George
VI (without crown) on the obverse. Around the coin's rim appears
GEORGIVS VI, D:G: which is an abbreviation of Dei Gratia ("God's
Grace" also stated as "by the grace of God"), REX (Latin for King)
and ET IND: IMP: ("and emperor of India"). Click on either image
for a larger view.
The reverse of this coin highlights King George VI's Canadian
visit in that year, the first by a reigning British monarch. The
image is of the Parliament Building in Ottawa with Latin
inscription above that translates to "He reigns by the faith of
his people". Below is imprinted CANADA as the issuing country, the
1939 date and the denomination of 1 DOLLAR.
A total of 1,363,816 Royal Visit Silver Dollars were minted which includes the higher-grade Specimen Strike Dollars. Most are worth their silver melt value plus the current premium. Most valuable are the Mint State Strikes MS-64 and higher and the Specimen Strikes in the higher grades of SP-63 and up which are worth several hundred dollars.
1949 Newfoundland Commemorative Dollar
This 1949 commemorative silver dollar features the image of George
VI (without crown) on the obverse. Around the coin's rim appears
GEORGIVS VI, D:G: which is an abbreviation of Dei Gratia ("God's
Grace" also stated as "by the grace of God") and REX (Latin for
King). With India's declared independence in 1947, the ET IND:
IMP: was removed. Click on either image for a larger view. Click
on either image for a larger view.
The reverse of this coin features a ship (the Mathew) on which
John Cabot reportedly landed on Newfoundland in 1497. Beneath the
waves of the ship is inscribed FLOREAT TERRA NOVA - Latin for "May
the new land flourish". Above the ship is CANADA as the issuing
country with the 1949 date and the denomination of (one) DOLLAR
below.
A total of 672,218 Newfoundland Silver Dollars were minted which includes the higher-grade Specimen Strike Dollars. Most are worth their silver melt value plus the current premium. Most valuable are the Specimen Strikes in the higher grades of SP-63 and up.
To determine the intrinsic (silver melt) value of either of the above dollars multiply .6 times the current spot price of silver.
Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Silver Dollars
The image of Queen Elizabeth II first appeared on the Canadian dollar in 1953, replacing that of King George VI whose image appeared from 1937 through 1952 (the year of his death). The Queen's image appears on Canadian dollars to this day although a number of modifications have been made throughout the years plus the removal of all silver from the coins minted for circulation (Business Strikes) beginning in 1968.
Three Queen Elizabeth II commemorative silver dollars were struck
between 1953 and 1967: the 1958 British Columbia Commemorative
Dollar; the 1964 Confederation Meetings Commemorative Dollar; and
the 1967 Confederation Centennial Commemorative Dollar. Here are
their details ...
1958 British Columbia Commemorative Canadian Dollar
This silver dollar commemorates the centennial of the
establishment of British Columbia as a crown colony. The obverse
features the image of a youthful Queen with laurel wreath and the
inscription Elizabeth II Dei Gratia ("God's Grace" also referred
to as "by the grace of God") and Regina (Queen).
The reverse has the image of a totem pole (artistry associated
with this region of Canada) with the Rocky Mountains in the
background and dual dates of 1858 and 1958, CANADA as the issuing
country and the denomination of (1) DOLLAR. Click on either image
for a larger view.
A total of 3,039,630 British Columbia Silver Dollars were minted which includes the higher-grade Prooflike Strikes. Like all Canadian dollars minted from 1935 through 1967, this coin contains 80% silver and 20% copper. Silver content/silver fineness is .600 troy ounces unless the coin is heavily worn.
1964 Confederation Meetings Commemorative Dollar
This dollar commemorates the centennial of the conferences held with various Canadian entities which resulted in Canada's confederation in 1867. The obverse features the image of a youthful Queen with laurel wreath and Dei Gratia ("God's Grace" also referred to as "by the grace of God") spelled out. Click on either image for a larger view.
The reverse has the dual dates of 1864-1964, the dollar denomination and a unique center design which consists of a circle featuring an English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock and French fleur-de-lis surrounded by the two meeting locations of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City, Quebec.
A total of 7,296,832 Confederation Meetings Silver Dollars were minted which includes the higher-grade Specimen/Prooflike Strike Dollars.
1967 Confederation Centennial Commemorative Dollar
The 1967 silver dollar commemorates the 100 year anniversary of
the Canadian Confederation - the process by which the federal
Dominion of Canada was formed from the provinces, colonies and
territories of British North America. It is the last of Canada's
circulating silver dollars. The obverse features the image of a
mature Queen Elizabeth wearing a jeweled tiara - a design that was
introduced in 1965 as the queen neared the age of 40.
The reverse is that of a Canada goose in flight ( a wildlife theme was used on the reverse of all 1967 commemorative coins) with the dual dates of 1867-1967 and the denomination. Click on either image for a larger view. A total of 6,767,496 Confederation Centennial Dollars were minted which includes the higher-grade Specimen/Prooflike Strike Dollars.
The 1967 Confederation Centennial Commemorative Silver Dollar is the last of Canada's circulating dollars to contain silver (80% silver and 20% copper.) Silver content/silver fineness is .600 troy ounces although a well worn coin will contain less.
To determine the intrinsic (silver
melt) value of a 1967 Canadian dollar multiply .6 times the
current spot price of silver.
Example: USD $30.00 x .6 = $18.00
If you are shopping for these commemorative coins and live in
Canada, a likely starting point for your purchases would be at
your local coin shop or even area coin shows. If you are a U.S.
citizen or a Canadian visiting the U.S., you may have better luck
at coin shops or shows in one of the states bordering Canada. I
have found coin shops further south of the Canadian border are a
"little light" on their knowledge and inventory of Canadian coins.
Good luck.
Disclaimer: I have made every reasonable effort to produce an informative and helpful article on Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Silver Canadian Dollars based on my research and experiences. However, I make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to its completeness, accuracy or suitability for any specific situation or purpose. See Terms and Conditions for more info.