Quarter (Canadian coin)
Canada | |
Value | 0.25 Canadian dollar |
---|---|
Mass | 4.4 g |
Diameter | 23.88 mm |
Thickness | 1.58 mm |
Edge | Milled |
Composition | Nickel-plated steel 94% steel, 3.8% Cu, 2.2% Ni plating |
Years of minting | 1870–present |
Catalog number | – |
Obverse | |
Design | Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada |
Designer | Susanna Blunt |
Design date | 2003 |
Design discontinued | 2023 |
Design | Charles III, King of Canada |
Designer | Steven Rosati |
Design date | 2023 |
Reverse | |
Design | Caribou |
Designer | Emmanuel Hahn |
Design date | 1937 |
The quarter, short for quarter dollar, is a Canadian coin worth 25 cents or one-fourth of a Canadian dollar. It is a small, circular coin of silver colour. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the official name for the coin is the 25-cent piece, but in practice, it is usually called a "quarter", much like its American counterpart. In Canadian French, it is called a caribou. The coin is produced at the mint's facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
History
[edit]This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2024) |
- The first commemorative coins were planned for 1927 to celebrate Canada's 60th anniversary. A contest was held and the winner for the twenty-five-cent coin was J. A. H. MacDonald; however, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) decided to not turn the design into coinage.[1]
- When coinage was changed in 1937, the caribou (currently on the quarter) was originally planned for the five-cent coin, the beaver (nickel) was planned for the ten-cent coin, and the Bluenose (dime) was planned for the twenty-five-cent coin.[1]
- The lowest mintage of any circulated quarter post–World War II was in 1991; low mintage was attributed to a work stoppage and using up stock in preparation for the release of the commemorative quarters the following year. The total mintage was 459,000, including collector sets and proofs.[2]
- Canadian quarters were not issued into circulation in 1997 and 1998. In 1997, only 525,257 quarters were produced. In 1998, only 395,617 quarters were produced, even fewer than in 1991. All of them were issued in collector sets or proofs and none were issued into circulation.
- The caribou on the 25-cent piece dates back to 1936 when a change in the sovereign's image on circulation currency prompted the Canadian government to modify the designs on the reverse side of coins as well. The caribou design was created by Canadian artist Emanuel Hahn and initially used in 1937. It has been temporarily replaced in some years: in 1967 for the Canadian centennial (with a Canada lynx), in 1973 to celebrate the centennial of the North-West Mounted Police, in 1992 for Canada's 125th anniversary, and in 1999 and 2000 by the winning designs of the Millennium coin program.
Composition and size
[edit]Years | Mass | Diameter | Composition[3] |
---|---|---|---|
1870–1919 | 5.83 g | 23.62 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
1920–1967 | 5.83 g | 23.62 mm | 80% silver, 20% copper |
1967–1968 | 5.83 g | 23.88 mm | 50% silver, 50% copper |
1968–2001 | 5.05 g | 23.88 mm | 99.9% nickel |
2001–present | 4.40 g | 23.88 mm | 94.0% steel (AISI 1006 alloy[4]), 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating |
From 1920 until 1967, the quarter contained 0.15 troy ounces of silver—one quarter as much as the silver dollar (0.60 ozt), one half as much as the 50-cent piece, and 2+1⁄2 times more than the dime.
Circulation figures
[edit]Victoria & Edward VII
[edit]Year | Mintage[a] |
---|---|
1870 | 900,000[5] |
1871 | 400,000[5] |
1871 H[b] | 748,000[5] |
1872 | 2,240,000[5] |
1874 H | 1,600,000[5] |
1875 H | 1,000,000[5] |
1880 H | 400,000[5] |
1881 H | 820,000[5] |
1882 H | 600,000[5] |
1883 H | 960,000[5] |
1885 | 192,000[5] |
1886 | 540,000[5] |
1887 | 100,000[5] |
1888 | 400,000[5] |
1889 | 66,324[5] |
1890 H | 200,000[5] |
1891 | 120,000[5] |
1892 | 510,000[5] |
1893 | 100,000[5] |
1894 | 220,000[5] |
1899 | 415,580[5] |
1900 | 1,320,000[5] |
1901 Victoria | 640,000[5] |
1902 Edward VII | 464,000[6] |
1902 H | 800,000[6] |
1903 | 846,150[6] |
1904 | 400,000[6] |
1905 | 800,000[6] |
1906 | 1,237,843[6] |
1907 | 2,088,000[6] |
1908 | 495,016[6] |
1909 | 1,335,929[6] |
1910 | 3,577,569[7] |
George V & George VI
[edit]Year | Mintage |
---|---|
1911 – No "Dei gratia"[c] | 1,721,341[9] |
1912 – With "Dei gra." | 2,544,199[10] |
1913 | 2,213,595[10] |
1914 | 1,215,397[10] |
1915 | 242,382[10] |
1916 | 1,462,566[10] |
1917 | 3,365,644[10] |
1918 | 4,175,649[10] |
1919 | 5,852,262[10] |
1920 | 1,975,278[11] |
1921 | 597,337[11] |
1927 | 468,096[11] |
1928 | 2,114,178[11] |
1929 | 2,690,562[11] |
1930 | 968,748[11] |
1931 | 537,815[11] |
1932 | 537,994[11] |
1933 | 421,282[11] |
1934 | 384,350[11] |
1935 | 537,772[11] |
1936 George V | 972,094[11] |
1936 George V (dot)[d] | 153,322[11] |
1937 George VI | 2,689,813[12] |
1938 | 3,149,245[12] |
1939 | 3,532,495[12] |
1940 | 9,583,650[12] |
1941 | 6,654,672[12] |
1942 | 6,935,871[12] |
1943 | 13,559,575[12] |
1944 | 7,216,237[12] |
1945 | 5,296,495[12] |
1946 | 2,210,810[12] |
1947[e] | 1,524,554[12] |
1947 ML[e] | 4,393,938[12] |
1948 | 2,564,424[13] |
1949 | 7,988,630[13] |
1950 | 9,673,335[13] |
1951 | 8,290,710[13] |
1952 | 8,859,642[13] |
Elizabeth II
[edit]Year | Mintage[f] | Notes |
---|---|---|
1953 No strap | 10,546,769[14] | This variety is also called with/without shoulder fold. |
1953 Strap | ||
1954 | 2,318,891[14] | |
1955 | 9,552,505[14] | |
1956 | 11,269,353[14] | |
1957 | 12,770,190[14] | |
1958 | 9,336,910[14] | |
1959 | 13,503,461[14] | |
1960 | 22,835,327[14] | |
1961 | 18,164,368[14] | |
1962 | 29,559,266[14] | |
1963 | 21,180,652[14] | |
1964 | 36,479,343[14] | 1st obverse portrait |
1965 | 44,708,869[15] | 2nd obverse portrait |
1966 | 25,626,315[15] | |
1967 80% silver | 48,855,500[16][g] | These quarters feature a Canadian Lynx on the reverse, and are dated 1867-1967. |
1967 50% silver | ||
1968 50% silver | 71,464,000[17] | |
1968 nickel | 88,686,931[18] | |
1969 | 133,037,929[18] | |
1970 | 10,302,010[18] | |
1971 | 48,170,428[18] | |
1972 | 43,743,387[18] | |
1973 Large bust[h] | 134,958,587[19] | The reverse depicts a mounted RCMP officer. |
1973 Small bust | ||
1974 | 192,360,598[18] | |
1975 | 141,148,000[18] | |
1976 | 86,898,261[18] | |
1977 | 99,634,555[18] | |
1978 | 176,475,408[18] | |
1979 | 131,042,905[20] | |
1980 | 76,178,000[20] | |
1981 | 131,580,272[20] | |
1982 | 171,926,000[20] | |
1983 | 13,162,000[20] | |
1984 | 121,668,000[20] | |
1985 | 158,734,000[20] | |
1986 | 132,220,000[20] | |
1987 | 53,408,000[20] | |
1988 | 80,368,473[20] | |
1989 | 119,796,307[20] | 2nd obverse portrait |
1990 | 31,258,000[21] | 3rd obverse portrait |
1991 | 459,000[21] | |
1992 | — | To celebrate the 125th anniversary of Confederation, the Royal Canadian Mint released twelve commemorative coins. |
1993 | 73,758,000[21] | |
1994 | 77,670,000[21] | |
1995 | 89,210,000[21] | |
1996 | 28,106,000[21] | |
1997 | Not circulated | |
1998 | Not circulated | |
1999 Caribou | 258,888,000[21] | An estimated 20,000 quarters are dated 1999 (P).[22] |
2000 Caribou | 434,087,000[21] | Only 3 to 5 2000 (P) quarters are known.[22] |
2001 Caribou | 8,415,000[21] | Struck in nickel. |
2001 P | 55,773,000[22] | Struck in nickel-plated steel (P). |
2002 P | 156,105,000[22] | |
2002 P (GJ) | 152,485,000[23] | (1952 - 2002) Elizabeth II Golden Jubliee |
2003 P Crowned | 87,647,000[22] | Crowned 3rd obverse portrait |
2003 P Uncrowned | 66,861,633[24] | Uncrowned 4th obverse portrait |
2004 P | 177,466,000[24] | |
2005 P | 206,346,000[24] | |
2006 P | 423,189,000[24] | |
2007 | 386,763,000[24] | |
2008 | 387,222,000[24] | |
2009 | 266,766,000[24] | |
2010 | 167,500,000[25] | |
2011 | 212,970,000[25] | |
2012 | 178,450,000[25] | |
2013 | 118,480,000[25] | |
2014 | 97,440,000[25] | |
2015 | 97,320,000[25] | |
2016 | 106,880,000[25] | |
2017 Caribou | 110,720,000[26] | |
2018 | 102,560,000[25] | |
2019 | 80,160,000[25] | |
2020 | 96,000,000[25] | |
2021 | 110,560,000 | |
2022 | 91,680,000 |
Collecting
[edit]- The 1906 Small Crown is valued in the thousands of dollars even for very poor conditions.
- 1936 marked two valuable variations, the Bar and the Dot, both trend for over $1,000 in uncirculated condition.
- The 1951 Low Relief was predominantly only made available in proof-like sets and has a mintage of around 500.
- The 1973 Large Bust is among the most desired Canadian quarters. They sell for around $300 in Proof Like or Specimen condition and can sell in the thousands for high-end circulation strikes.
- The 1991 quarter had a low mintage, of 459,000
- The 1992 New Brunswick quarter has several rotated die versions, with the 180-degree rotation selling for between $100 and $200 in uncirculated condition.
- 1999 featured mule versions of the September and November quarters. These coins do not have the 25 CENTS mark on them, making them legal tender without face value. Either usually sells for over $10 depending on the condition of the coin. The Royal Canadian Mint estimates a combined mintage of 10,000 to 50,000 of the September and November mules.
- The 2000 Millennium Map mule. Highly sought after by collectors, this is a modern rarity with about 100 known examples, as referenced in population reports of coin certification services (ICCS, CCCS, PCGS, NGC).
- 2000P Caribou: two examples are known to exist. They fetch $40,000 or more (ICCS has graded both in MS-64: ICCS 2010 Population report). Both are in private collections.
- 2000P Creativity: two are known to exist. They fetch $15,000 to $20,000 (ICCS has graded one in MS-62 and the other in MS-66: ICCS 2010 Population report).
- 2000P Community: five are known to exist. They fetch $12,000 to $15,000 (ICCS has graded one in MS-60, two in MS-62, and two in MS-63: ICCS 2010 Population report).
Starting in 2011, the mint began selling special sets for newborn babies, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, "Oh Canada" and the Tooth Fairy. The tooth fairy quarters also come packaged separately.[27]
Notes
[edit]- ^ These figures include the 1872: inverted "A" for "V" in Victoria, the 1880: "narrow" and "wide" 0, and 1906: "large" and rare "small" crown varieties.
- ^ The "H" on the coin refers to "Ralph Heaton & Sons".
- ^ The words "Dei gratia" were removed from the obverse of the coin to make room for "Ind:Imp:" (Emperor of India). It was restored in 1912 after public backlash.[8]
- ^ This coin has a "dot" below the wreath on the reverse.
- ^ a b Three different varieties were created during this year. There are 1947 dated quarters, 1947 dated quarters with a "dot after 7" (in 1947), and those with a maple leaf after the "7". Maple leaf coins omit "IND: IMP:" aka Indiae Imperator (Emperor of India) on the obverse.
- ^ Unless mentioned otherwise, all of these quarters feature a Caribou on the reverse.
- ^ The mintage figure includes 80% and 50% silver coins.
- ^ Quarters dated 1973 have "large" and "small" bust varieties of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Striking Impressions, James A. Haxby, 1983, ISBN 0-660-91234-1
- ^ Charlton Standard of Canadian Coins, p.128
- ^ "A familiar face – the 25-cent coin". Royal Canadian Mint. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Control of electromagnetic signals of coins through multi-ply plating technology". Google Patents. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Canada 25 Cents KM# 5 1870". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Canada 25 Cents KM# 11 1902 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 25 Cents KM# 11a 1910 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian Coin News". Canadian Coin News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 25 Cents KM# 18 1911 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Canada 25 Cents KM# 24 1912 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Canada 25 Cents KM# 24a 1920 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Canada 25 Cents KM# 35 1937 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Canada 25 Cents KM# 44 1948 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Canada 25 Cents KM# 52 1953(no mint mark) Without strap". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b "Canada 25 Cents KM# 62 1965(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 29, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. pp. 315–320. ISBN 978-1440246548.
- ^ "Canada 25 Cents KM# 62a 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Canada 25 Cents KM# 62b 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 25 Cents KM# 81.1 1873-1973(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Canada 25 Cents KM# 74 1979(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Canada 25 Cents KM# 184 1990(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Canada 25 Cents KM# 184b 1999(no mint mark) P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 25 Cents KM# 448 1952-2002P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Canada 25 Cents KM# 493 2003P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "RCM Mintages 2010 – 2020". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Royal Canadian Mint (2017). 2017 Annual Report – Delivering Results (PDF) (Report). p. 86. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ "2012 CANADA Tooth Fairy Gift Sett Special quarter reverse Mint sealed | eBay". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2012.[user-generated source?]