Description

The beloved loonie garnered significant attention when it entered circulation in 1987. It wasn?t Canada?s first circulation 1-dollar coin?that claim to fame belongs to the 1935 Voyageur silver dollar, a non-circulating commemoration of the silver jubilee of King George V ?but it marked a major milestone in Canadian currency as the country said goodbye to the one-dollar bank note. For this amazing coin?the first in our series of seven?the famous loon swims outside its circle in a Royal Canadian Mint first!

Key Features

• Canadian currency icons shown in a brand new light. This uniquely-shaped coin is the first of the Royal Canadian Mint?s 6-coin series of intricately shaped pure silver coins featuring iconic coin designs transcending their circular boundaries
• Accented with 24kt gold plating.
• Unique packaging highlights the uniqueness and beauty of your coin. Special shaped capsule showcases the coin silhouette.
• Low mintage of only 1,500 coins means this collectible is sure to sell out quickly.
• Each coin in the series is an exquisite gift idea and a great way to spark interest in coin collecting. They are also ideal additions for any collector interested Canadian coinage history or general Canadiana.

Replacing the 1-dollar bill with a coin was a big change. And ?change? was one of the reasons for its controversy?pocket change, to be precise. All that extra jingling, all that extra weight in our purses and pockets: what would become of us? Despite the good-natured debate, a compelling argument for cost savings won the day. A paper bill?s life expectancy was one year. A coin could remain in circulation twenty times longer. The ?loonie? (as it was nicknamed, after Carmichael?s reverse design) made its debut in 1987 and the dollar bank note was phased out two years later. Despite initial doubts, the new coin quickly became a hit.

Did You Know?

• The design originally chosen for the reverse side of the loonie was that of the original Voyageur silver dollar: Emanuel Hahn?s iconic image of an indigenous guide and a French voyageur paddling a canoe. But in November of 1986, the master dies for this design disappeared en route to the Royal Canadian Mint?s Winnipeg branch from its Ottawa branch. To avoid potential counterfeiting?since the dies were never recovered?the government chose Ontario artist Carmichael?s common loon image as the replacement.

Theme: For the first time – Canada?s iconic loon swims off its coin! Using the newest coining technology, this exciting collectible celebrates artist Robert-Ralph Carmichael?s loon?found on Canadian 1-dollar ?loonies? since 1987?within its own silhouette and accented with pure gold plating. Carefully crafted in more than 3 ounces of pure silver, this is a totally unique take on this Canadian icon.

Design: The coin has been specifically designed for consistent weight while also ensuring that the subject remains unaltered from the original in detail and proportions. From the original 1987 1-dollar coin reverse, Robert-Ralph Carmichael?s iconic loon floats on a still lake with a small island populated by conifers in the background. The scene is portrayed within its own silhouette. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt and a stylized pattern of loon silhouettes.