View source for Loonie

{{Short description|Canadian $1 coin}}
{{About|the current Canadian one-dollar coin|the old dollar coin struck from 1935 to 1986|Voyageur dollar|the Canadian dollar as a currency|Canadian dollar|other uses|Looney (disambiguation)}}
{{update|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox coin
| Country             = Canada
| Denomination        = Loonie
| Value               = 1
| Unit                = [[Canadian dollar|CAD]]
| Mass                = 6.27
| Diameter            = 26.5
| Thickness           = 1.95
| Height              =
| Edge                = [[Hendecagon|Eleven-sided]], smooth, 7.5{{nbsp}}mm
| Composition         = [[Steel]], [[brass]] plating
| Years of Minting    = 1987–present
| Catalogue Number      = –
| Obverse             = Canadian Dollar - obverse.png
| Obverse Design      = [[Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of Canada]]
| Obverse Designer    = [[Susanna Blunt]]
| Obverse Design Date = 2003
| Obverse Discontinued = 2023
| Obverse2 Design      = [[Charles III]], [[King of Canada]]
| Obverse2 Designer    = Steven Rosati
| Obverse2 Design Date = 2023
| Reverse             =
| Reverse Design      = [[Common loon]] in water
| Reverse Designer    = [[Robert-Ralph Carmichael]]<ref name="RCM $1">{{cite web |website=[[Royal Canadian Mint]] |title=1 dollar |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/discover/canadian-circulation/1-dollar |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312040902/https://www.mint.ca/en/discover/canadian-circulation/1-dollar |url-status=live}}</ref>
| Reverse Design Date = 1987
| Reverse2             = Canadian Dollar - reverse.png
| Reverse2 Design      = [[Common loon]] in water
| Reverse2 Designer    = [[Robert-Ralph Carmichael]]
| Reverse2 Design Date = 2012
}}

The '''loonie''' ({{langx|fr|huard}}), formally the '''Canadian one-dollar coin''', is a gold-coloured [[Canadian coin]] that was introduced in 1987 and is produced by the [[Royal Canadian Mint]] at its facility in [[Winnipeg]]. The most prevalent versions of the coin show a [[common loon]], a bird found throughout Canada, on the [[Obverse and reverse|reverse]] and [[Monarchy of Canada|Queen Elizabeth II]], the nation's head of state at the time of the coin's issue, on the [[obverse]]. Various commemorative and specimen-set editions of the coin with special designs replacing the loon on the reverse have been minted over the years. Beginning in December 2023, a new version featuring King [[Charles III]] entered circulation, to replace the version featuring Elizabeth II.

The coin's outline is an [[hendecagon|11-sided]] [[Reuleaux polygon]]. Its diameter of {{cvt|26.5|mm}} and its 11-sidedness match that of the already-circulating [[Susan B. Anthony dollar]] in the United States, and its thickness of {{cvt|1.95|mm}} is a close match to the latter's {{cvt|2.0|mm}}. Its gold colour differs from the silver-coloured Anthony dollar; however, the succeeding [[Sacagawea dollar|Sacagawea]] and [[presidential dollars]] match the loonie's overall hue. Other coins using a non-circular [[curve of constant width]] include the 7-sided British [[twenty pence (British decimal coin)|twenty pence]] and [[fifty pence (British decimal coin)|fifty pence]] coins (the latter of which has similar size and value to the loonie but is silver in colour).

After its introduction, the coin became a [[metonym]] for the [[Canadian dollar]]: media often discuss the rate at which the loonie is trading against other currencies.<ref>{{cite news |website=CBC News |date=April 21, 2003 |title=Loonie trading lower against U.S. dollar |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loonie-trading-lower-against-u-s-dollar-1.406119 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127025011/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loonie-trading-lower-against-u-s-dollar-1.406119 |url-status=live}}</ref> The nickname ''loonie'' became so widely recognized that in 2006, the Royal Canadian Mint secured the rights to it.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&fileNumber=0916677&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=51 |title=Application Number: 0916677 |journal=Canadian Trade-marks Database |publisher=[[Canadian Intellectual Property Office]] |access-date=February 18, 2010 |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027205232/http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&fileNumber=0916677&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=51 |url-status=live}}</ref> When the Canadian two-dollar coin was introduced in 1996, it was in turn nicknamed the "[[toonie]]" (a [[portmanteau]] of "two" and "loonie").

==Background==
Canada first minted a [[Canadian silver dollar|silver dollar coin]] in 1935 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of [[George V]]'s reign as [[Monarchy of Canada|king]].<ref>{{harvnb|Cross|2011|p=195}}</ref> The [[voyageur dollar]], so named because it featured an [[First Nations in Canada|Indigenous]] person and a French [[Voyageurs|voyageur]] paddling a [[canoe]] on the reverse, was minted in silver until 1967, after which it was composed primarily of nickel.<ref>{{citation |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7TBgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q28NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4328,3681953 |title=Sharp announces plans for 1968 nickel coins |work=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix |date=December 23, 1966 |access-date=April 13, 2013 |page=1 |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013231215/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7TBgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q28NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4328,3681953 |url-status=live}}</ref> The coins did not see wide circulation, mainly due to their size and weight; the nickel version weighed {{convert|15.6|g|oz}} and was {{convert|32.1|mm|in}} in diameter,<ref name="EJDollarReplace">{{citation |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C_5kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1299,2337151 |title=Paper dollar not about to be replaced |work=Edmonton Journal |date=July 7, 1982 |access-date=April 13, 2013 |page=A14 |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013231215/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C_5kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TogNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1299,2337151 |url-status=live}}</ref> and was itself smaller than the silver version.<ref>{{harvnb|Cross|2011|p=206}}</ref> By 1978, Canadian businesses, namely vending machine operators, and transit authorities were advocating for a one-dollar coin that circulated more easily.<ref name="SaSC">{{citation |title=A New Canadian Circulation Dollar Coin Background Summary |publisher=Supply and Services Canada |page=1}}</ref>

By 1982, the [[Royal Canadian Mint]] had begun work on a new composition for the dollar coin that it hoped would lead to increased circulation.<ref name="EJDollarReplace" /> At the same time, vending machine operators and transit systems were lobbying the [[Government of Canada]] to replace the dollar banknotes with more widely circulating coins. A [[House of Commons of Canada|Commons committee]] recommended in 1985 that the dollar bill be eliminated despite a lack of evidence that Canadians would support the move.<ref name="OC1985DollarCoin">{{citation |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oKQyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mO8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3220,3499172 |title=Canadian govt. may be courting disaster with dollar coin |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=August 19, 1985 |access-date=April 13, 2013 |page=A12 |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013231213/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oKQyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mO8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3220,3499172 |url-status=live}}</ref> The government argued that it would save between $175{{nbsp}}million and $250{{nbsp}}million over 20 years by switching from bills that had a lifespan of less than a year to coins that would last two decades.<ref name="CBCArchiveLoonie">{{citation |url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1987-introducing-the-loonie |title=1987: Introducing the Loonie |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230045/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/1987-introducing-the-loonie |archive-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref>

==History==
The government announced on March 25, 1986, that the new dollar coin would be launched the following year as a replacement for the dollar bill, which would be phased out.<ref name="OCCoinIntroduced">{{citation |last=Lee |first=Robert |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w78yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rO8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5946,2073094 |title=New coin to replace dollar bill |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=March 25, 1986 |access-date=April 14, 2013 |page=A1 |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103202513/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w78yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rO8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5946,2073094 |url-status=live}}</ref> Two proposals for the coin were considered, one by INCO for the Nigold coin, and one by Sheritt Gordon Mines for an aureate bronze plated on pure nickel (aureate nickel) coin. The government selected the Sherritt Gordon Mines proposal as it was less costly and the innovative technology behind the coin could serve to demonstrate the Royal Canadian Mint's capabilities in the international coinage market.<ref name="SaSC" />

It was expected to cost $31.8{{nbsp}}million to produce the first 300{{nbsp}}million coins but, through [[seigniorage]] (the difference between the cost of production and the coin's value), expected to make up to $40{{nbsp}}million a year on the coins. From the proceeds, a total of $60{{nbsp}}million over five years was dedicated toward funding the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] in Calgary.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Robert |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xL8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rO8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1264,2475709 |title=Govt. hopes to cash in on dollar coin |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=March 26, 1986 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |page=A3 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817131030/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xL8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rO8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1264,2475709 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The failure of the [[Susan B. Anthony dollar]] coin in the United States had been considered and it was believed Americans refused to support the coin due to its similarity to their [[Quarter (United States coin)|quarter]] coin and its lack of aesthetic appeal.<ref name="OC1985DollarCoin" /> In announcing the new Canadian dollar coin, the government stated it would be the same overall size as the Susan B. Anthony coin – slightly larger than a quarter – to allow for compatibility with American manufactured vending machines but would be [[Hendecagon|eleven-sided]] and gold-coloured.<ref name="OCCoinIntroduced" /> The sample Canadian dollar was well received in test groups, with 80% of participants feeling its size, shape and colour made it more easily discernible from other coins.<ref name="SaSC" /> 

It was planned that the coin would continue using the ''voyageur'' theme reverse designed by Emanuel Hahn and an obverse effigy of Queen Elizabeth designed by Arnold Machine.<ref name="SaSC" /> However, the master dies that had been struck in Ottawa were lost in transit en route to the Mint's facility at Winnipeg.<ref name="CTV20thAnniversary">{{cite web |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/the-loonie-a-canadian-touchstone-is-turning-20-1.246599 |title=The loonie, a Canadian touchstone, is turning 20 |publisher=CTV News |date=June 27, 2007 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119061043/https://www.ctvnews.ca/the-loonie-a-canadian-touchstone-is-turning-20-1.246599}}</ref> A Commons committee struck to investigate the loss discovered that the Mint had no documented procedures for transport of master dies and that it had shipped them via a local courier in a bid to save $43.50. It was also found to be the third time that the Mint had lost master dies within five years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weston |first=Greg |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GK8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ku8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5221,1949029 |title=Dollar fiasco third time mint lost moulds |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=February 5, 1987 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |page=A1 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819044209/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GK8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ku8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5221,1949029 |url-status=live}}</ref> An internal review by the Royal Canadian Mint argued that while a policy existed to ship the obverse and reverse dies separately, the new coin dies were packaged separately but were part of the same shipment. The Mint also disagreed with the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]]'s contention that the dies were simply lost in transit, believing instead that they were stolen.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vanished dollar coin dies likely stolen, review finds |work=Toronto Star |date=April 19, 1990 |page=D12}}</ref> The dies were never recovered.<ref name="CTV20thAnniversary" />

Fearing the possibility of counterfeiting, the government approved a new design for the reverse, replacing the ''voyageur'' with a [[Robert-Ralph Carmichael]] design of a [[common loon]] floating in water.<ref name="CTV20thAnniversary" /> Carmichael's design had been submitted to the Royal Canadian Mint in 1978 and was chosen from the existing bank of designs maintained by the Mint.<ref name="SaSC" /> In particular, the choice of the loon motif fit well with the other existing wildlife depictions used with the five-and twenty-five cent coins.<ref name="SaSC" /> The [[Canadian Wildlife Federation]] provided strong approval of the design choice.<ref name="SaSC" />

The coin was immediately nicknamed the ''loonie'' across English Canada and became known as a ''huard'', French for 'loon', in Quebec.<ref name="CBCArchiveLoonie" /> The loonie entered circulation on June 30, 1987, as 40{{nbsp}}million coins were introduced into major cities across the country.<ref>{{cite news |last=McIntosh |first=Andrew |title=Canadians will call for the Loon when they know it, Mint predicts |work=The Globe and Mail |date=June 30, 1987 |page=A1}}</ref> Over 800{{nbsp}}million loonies had been struck by the coin's 20th anniversary.<ref name="Ch20thAnniversary">{{cite news |last=Goldman |first=Suzanne |title=Loonie's two decades cause for celebration |work=Calgary Herald |date=June 30, 2007 |page=A1}}</ref>

After a 21-month period in which the loonie and $1 note were produced concurrently with each other, the Bank of Canada ceased production of the dollar banknote. The final dollar bills were printed on June 30, 1989.<ref name="CHBillDemise">{{cite news |last=Dawson |first=Chris |title=Paper dollar's demise begins bronzed bird's solo flight |work=Calgary Herald |date=June 30, 1989 |page=A1}}</ref> Initial support for the coin was mixed,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3adJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IA4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4365,3952253 |title=The 'loonie' divides Canada |work=Bangor Daily News |date=February 12, 1990 |access-date=June 30, 2013 |page=27 |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013231216/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3adJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IA4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4365,3952253 |url-status=live}}</ref> but withdrawing the banknote forced acceptance of the coin.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rochette |first=Ed |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fKpJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4oQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1380,216339 |title=Canada uses its mint to make dollars and sense |work=The Vindicator |date=April 16, 1995 |access-date=June 30, 2013 |page=A17 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816142644/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fKpJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4oQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1380,216339 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The loonie has subsequently gained iconic status within Canada,<ref name="Ch20thAnniversary" /> and is now regarded as a national symbol.<ref name="Spec20th">{{cite news |url=http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2150853-happy-20th-to-our-loonie/ |title=Happy 20th to our loonie |work=Hamilton Spectator |date=June 30, 2007 |access-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225025615/http://www.thespec.com/news-story/2150853-happy-20th-to-our-loonie/ |archive-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> The term "loonie" has since become synonymous with the Canadian dollar itself.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2008/11/12/loonie_suffers_worst_day_ever.html |title=Loonie suffers worst day ever |work=Toronto Star |date=November 12, 2008 |access-date=June 30, 2013 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803111358/https://www.thestar.com/business/2008/11/12/loonie_suffers_worst_day_ever.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The town of [[Echo Bay, Ontario]], home of [[Robert-Ralph Carmichael]], erected a large loonie monument in his honour in 1992 along the highway, similar to [[Big Nickel|Sudbury's 'Big Nickel']].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigthings.ca/ontario/echobay.html |title=Echo Bay: Canadian Dollar Coin (Loonie) |access-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112151421/http://www.bigthings.ca/ontario/echobay.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

A year after the death of [[Elizabeth II]], a new loonie featuring the image of [[Charles III]] designed by Steven Rosati was revealed on November 14, 2023. A small number of the coins entered circulation in December 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/king-charles-coin-royal-canadian-mint-1.7027749 |title=1st batch of newly minted Canadian coins bearing King Charles's image unveiled |publisher=CBC News |date=November 14, 2023 |accessdate=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115002525/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/king-charles-coin-royal-canadian-mint-1.7027749 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Lucky loonie==
[[File:2010 Olympic Lucky Loonie.jpg|thumb|right|The 2010 Olympic "lucky" loonie]]
Officials for the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics]] invited the [[National Hockey League]]'s ice making consultant, Dan Craig, to oversee the city's [[E Center]] arena, where the [[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics|ice hockey tournament]] was being held. Craig invited a couple of members from the ice crew in his hometown of Edmonton to assist. One of them, Trent Evans, secretly placed a loonie at centre ice. He had originally placed a [[dime (Canadian coin)|dime]] but added the loonie after the smaller coin quickly vanished as the ice surface was built up.<ref name="OlympicHistory">{{cite book |last=Podnieks |first=Andrew |title=Canada's Olympic Hockey History 1920–2010 |year=2009 |publisher=Fenn Publishing |location=Toronto |page=[https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn/page/201 201] |isbn=978-1-55168-323-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/canadasolympicho0000podn/page/201}}</ref> He placed the coins after realizing there was no target at centre ice for [[referee (ice hockey)|referees]] to aim for when dropping the puck for a [[faceoff]]. A thin yellow dot was painted on the ice surface over the coins, though the loonie was faintly visible to those who knew to look for it.<ref name="EJRetrospective" />

Keeping the coin a secret, Evans told only a few people of its placement and swore them to secrecy. Among those told were the players of the [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|men's]] and [[Canada women's national ice hockey team|women's]] teams.<ref name="EJRetrospective">{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/sports/olympics/story.html?id={51C80F3B-CF41-4C46-87C5-354C2F90AA97} |title=Lucky loonie golden for Canada |work=Edmonton Journal |date=November 16, 2004 |access-date=August 24, 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Both Canadian teams went on to win gold medals. Several members of the women's team kissed the spot where the coin was buried following their victory.<ref name="OlympicHistory" /> After the men won their final, the coin was dug up and given to [[Wayne Gretzky]], the team's executive-director, who revealed the existence of the "lucky loonie" at a post-game press conference.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vecsey |first=Laura |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83322694.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130824213335/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83322694.html|archive-date=August 24, 2013 |title=Canadians go absolutely loonie over hockey gold |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=February 25, 2002 |access-date=August 14, 2013}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive}}</ref>

The lucky loonie quickly became a piece of Canadian lore.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23296337.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405090535/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23296337.html|archive-date=April 5, 2018 |title=Turin Notebook: Hedican named to U.S. hockey team for Winter Olympics |work=The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) |date=February 7, 2006 |access-date=August 24, 2013}} {{link note|note=Partial story rendition from HighBeam.com archive}}</ref> The original lucky loonie was donated to the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]],<ref name="CBCNationalSymbol">{{cite web |last=Bowman |first=John |url=http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2012/06/is-the-loonie-as-important-a-symbol-of-canada-as-the-maple-leaf.html |title=Is the loonie as important a symbol of Canada as the maple leaf? |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726235344/https://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2012/06/is-the-loonie-as-important-a-symbol-of-canada-as-the-maple-leaf.html |archive-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> and Canadians have subsequently hidden loonies at several international competitions, including the [[2008 Olympic Games]] and the [[2010 IIHF World Championships]].<ref name="MintLuckyLoonie">{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/product/mintcoins.jsp?campaignName=LuckyLoonie&pId=700004&lang=en_CA |title=The original lucky loonie |publisher=Royal Canadian Mint |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017131511/http://www.mint.ca/store/product/mintcoins.jsp?campaignName=LuckyLoonie&pId=700004&lang=en_CA |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref> Loonies were buried in the foundations of facilities built for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=ec15e11d-2b47-47de-907f-bac48934e15b |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130824213352/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=ec15e11d-2b47-47de-907f-bac48934e15b|archive-date=August 24, 2013 |title=Lucky loonies abound at Olympic skating oval |work=Vancouver Sun |date=June 20, 2008 |access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>

Capitalizing on the tradition, the Royal Canadian Mint has released a commemorative edition "lucky loonie" for each Olympic Games since 2004.<ref name="MintLuckyLoonie" />

==Composition==
The weight of the coin was originally specified as 108 [[grain (unit)|grain]]s, equivalent to 6.998 grams.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/canada-gazette/093/001060-119.01-e.php?document_id_nbr=11159&image_id_nbr=560252&f=p |title=ARCHIVED – Item Display – A Nation's Chronicle: The Canada Gazette – Library and Archives Canada |website=www.collectionscanada.gc.ca |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033637/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/canada-gazette/093/001060-119.01-e.php?document_id_nbr=11159&image_id_nbr=560252&f=p |url-status=live}}</ref> The coin's diameter is {{convert|26.5|mm}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/1-dollar-5300014 |title=Striking in its solitude – the 1-dollar coin, familiarly known as the 'loonie' |publisher=[[Royal Canadian Mint]] |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226183915/http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/1-dollar-5300014 |archive-date=February 26, 2012}}</ref>

When introduced, loonie coins were made of aureate, a [[bronze]]–[[Electroplating|electroplated]] [[nickel]] combination. Beginning in 2007, some loonie blanks also began to be produced with a [[cyanide]]-free brass plating process. In the second quarter of 2012, the composition switched to multi-ply [[brass]]-plated [[steel]]. As a result, the weight dropped from 7.00 to 6.27 grams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2012/2012-01-04/html/sor-dors324-eng.html |title=Order Amending Part 2 of the Schedule to the Royal Canadian Mint Act |work=Canada Gazette |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523053520/http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2012/2012-01-04/html/sor-dors324-eng.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in the 2012 loonie not being accepted in some vending machines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/lighter-loonies-toonies-causing-headaches-vending-parking-machines-202448810.html |title=New lighter loonies, toonies causing headaches for vending and parking machines |date=April 26, 2012 |work=Yahoo News Canada |access-date=June 22, 2015 |archive-date=June 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622085456/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/lighter-loonies-toonies-causing-headaches-vending-parking-machines-202448810.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Toronto Parking Authority estimated that at about $345 per machine, it would cost about $1{{nbsp}}million to upgrade almost 3,000 machines to accept the new coins. The Mint stated that multi-ply plated steel technology, already used in Canada's smaller coinage, produces an electromagnetic signature that is harder to counterfeit than that of regular alloy coins; also, using steel provides cost savings and avoids fluctuations in price or supply of nickel.<ref name="gaz">{{cite news |url=https://montrealgazette.com/business/money/Material+change+store+loonies+toonies/5992375/story.html |title=Material change in store for loonies, toonies |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |agency=Postmedia News |date=January 14, 2012}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On April 10, 2012, the Royal Canadian Mint announced design changes to the loonie and [[toonie]], which include new security features.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Loonie and Toonie have evolved |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/new-1-and-2-6800002 |publisher=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423110121/http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/new-1-and-2-6800002 |archive-date=April 23, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/the-new-1-coin-6800004 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |title=The New $1 Coin |publisher=Royal Canadian Mint |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024721/https://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/the-new-1-coin-6800004#.WsWOP3bP2Uk |archive-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref>

==Commemorative editions==
Alongside the regular minting of the loonie with the standard image of the common loon on the coin's reverse, the Royal Canadian Mint has also released commemorative editions of the one-dollar coin for a variety of occasions. These coins have a circulation-grade finish and have been made available to the public in five-coin packs and in 25-coin rolls in addition to being released directly into circulation.

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Commemorative editions of the Canadian $1 coin
!Year
!Theme
!Artist
!Mintage
!Notes
|-
|1992
|125th anniversary of [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]]<ref>Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, p. 174</ref>
|Rita Swanson
|23,010,000
|Showing children and the [[Parliament Hill|Parliament Building]]. The regular loon design was also minted that year bearing the double date "1867–1992".
|-
|1994
|Remembrance design<ref name="autogenerated2">Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, p. 175</ref>
|RCM Staff
|15,000,000
|Image of the [[National War Memorial (Canada)|National War Memorial]] in Ottawa
|-
|1995
|[[Peacekeeping Monument]]<ref name="autogenerated2" />
|J. K. Harman, Richard Henriquez, [[Gregory Henriquez]], C. H. Oberlander, Susan Taylor
|41,813,100 (see note)
|Included in 1995 loonie mintage
|-
|2004
|Olympic lucky loonie<ref name="autogenerated3">Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, p. 177</ref>
|R.R. Carmichael
|6,526,000<ref name="autogenerated1" />
|First lucky loonie. Released for the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] held in [[Athens]], Greece.
|-
|2005
|[[Terry Fox]]
|[[Stanley Witten|Stan Witten]]
|12,909,000<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite report |publisher=Royal Canadian Mint |title=2006 Annual Report – External Forces, Internal Strength |year=2006 |url=https://www.mint.ca/globalassets/about/company/reports/2006/2006-annual-report_external-forces-internal-strength.pdf |page=46 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026122500/https://www.mint.ca/globalassets/about/company/reports/2006/2006-annual-report_external-forces-internal-strength.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
|Fox is the first Canadian citizen to be featured on a circulated Canadian coin. There are versions that exist without grass on the reverse of the coin.<ref name="autogenerated3" />
|-
|2006
|Olympic lucky loonie
|Jean-Luc Grondin
|10,495,000<ref name="autogenerated1" />
|Second lucky loonie. Released for the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] held in [[Turin]], Italy.
|-
|2008
|Olympic lucky loonie
|Jean-Luc Grondin
|10,000,000
|Third lucky loonie. Released for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] held in [[Beijing]], China.
|-
|2009
|[[Montreal Canadiens centennial]]
|Susanna Blunt
|10,000,000<ref name="MCCL">{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3607792 |title=Habs' 100th anniversary celebration continues with logo on Canadian dollar |publisher=Associated Press |date=September 24, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2009 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231730/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3607792 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|The coin features the [[Montreal Canadiens]]' "CH" logo and is double-dated 1909–2009.
|-
|2010
|Olympic lucky loonie
|RCM Staff
|11,000,000
|Fourth lucky loonie. Released for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] held in [[Vancouver]]. Includes the 2010 Winter Olympics symbol ilanaaq, an inukshuk.
|-
|2010
|[[Canadian Navy|Navy]] centennial
|Bonnie Ross
|7,000,000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coincollectingnews.org/royal-canadian-mints-2010-navy-centennial-dollar-coin/1012381 |title=Royal Canadian Mint's 2010 Navy Centennial Dollar Coin |date=July 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721070549/http://www.coincollectingnews.org/royal-canadian-mints-2010-navy-centennial-dollar-coin/1012381 |publisher=Coin Collecting News |archive-date=July 21, 2010 |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>
|Features a {{sclass|Halifax|frigate}} below anchor, a 1910 naval serviceman and a modern-day female naval officer.
|-
|2010
|[[2010 Saskatchewan Roughriders season|Saskatchewan Roughriders centennial]]
|Susanna Blunt
|3,000,000<ref name="mint.ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-celebrates-rider-pride-with-onedollar-circulation-coin-commemorating-saskatchewan-roughriders-centennial-9900005?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint |title=Royal Canadian Mint Celebrates Rider Pride with One-Dollar Circulation Coin Commemorating Saskatchewan Roughriders' Centennial |work=mint.ca |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622045419/http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-celebrates-rider-pride-with-onedollar-circulation-coin-commemorating-saskatchewan-roughriders-centennial-9900005?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint#.VYeU_3bP2Uk |archive-date=June 22, 2015}}</ref>
|Features the Roughriders logo along with a stylized 100.
|-
|2011
|[[Parks Canada]] centennial <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-celebrates-nature-and-canadas-great-outdoors-with-new-circulation-coins-commemorating-the-centennial-of-parks-canada-the-boreal-forest-and-three-new-animal-themes-12800004?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint |title=Royal Canadian Mint Celebrates Nature and Canada's Great Outdoors with New Circulation Coins Commemorating The Centennial of Parks Canada, The Boreal Forest and Three New Animal Themes |work=mint.ca |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622042536/http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-celebrates-nature-and-canadas-great-outdoors-with-new-circulation-coins-commemorating-the-centennial-of-parks-canada-the-boreal-forest-and-three-new-animal-themes-12800004?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint#.VYeOQ3bP2Uk |archive-date=June 22, 2015}}</ref>
|Nolin BBDO Montreal<ref name="mint2">{{cite web |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2011/parks-canada-centennial-$1-circulation-5-pack-2011--royal-canadian-mint |title=Parks Canada Centennial $1 Circulation 5-Pack (2011) |work=mint.ca |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118192924/https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2011/parks-canada-centennial-$1-circulation-5-pack-2011--royal-canadian-mint |url-status=live}}</ref>
|5,000,000
|Features stylized land, air and aquatic fauna, varieties of flora, as well as a symbolic park building and the silhouette of a hiker framed by a snow-capped mountain range.<ref name="mint2" />
|-
|2012
|Olympic lucky loonie
|Emily Damstra
|5,000,000
|Fifth lucky loonie. Released for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] held in [[London]], United Kingdom. Features a common loon with its wings spread, the Olympic rings, and a laser-etched maple leaf.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-wishes-canadas-athletes-luck-with-the-2012-lucky-loonie-circulation-coin-16000005?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint |title=Royal Canadian Mint Wishes Canada's Athletes Luck with the 2012 Lucky Loonie Circulation Coin |work=mint.ca |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708152426/http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-wishes-canadas-athletes-luck-with-the-2012-lucky-loonie-circulation-coin-16000005?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint |archive-date=July 8, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2012
| [[100th Grey Cup]]
|RCM Staff
|5,000,000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-celebrates-100th-grey-cup-with-onedollar-circulation-coin-16400003?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint |title=Royal Canadian Mint Celebrates 100th Grey Cup® with One-Dollar Circulation Coin |work=mint.ca |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701230442/http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-celebrates-100th-grey-cup-with-onedollar-circulation-coin-16400003?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint#.V3b3E3bP2Uk |archive-date=July 1, 2016}}</ref>
|Features the Grey Cup with "100th Grey Cup" in English and French.
|-
|2014
|Olympic lucky loonie
|Emily Damstra
|5,000,000
|Sixth lucky loonie. Released for the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] held in [[Sochi]], Russia. Features a common loon with its wings spread sitting on a lake, the Canadian Olympic team logo, and a laser-etched maple leaf. Same design as the 2012 version of the lucky loonie.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-unveils-2014-lucky-loonie-circulation-coin-20600035?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint |title=Royal Canadian Mint Unveils 2014 Lucky Loonie Circulation Coin |work=mint.ca |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405090140/http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-unveils-2014-lucky-loonie-circulation-coin-20600035?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint |archive-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|Women's right to vote
|Laurie McGaw
|5,000,000
|Features a woman casting a ballot with a girl to commemorate the 100th anniversary of [[women's suffrage in Canada]].
|-
|2016
|Olympic lucky loonie
|Derek Wicks
|5,000,000
|Seventh lucky loonie. Released for the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] held in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil. Shows the image of a common loon on the water, poised for take-off with an arched body and outstretched wings, with a stylized maple leaf in the background.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-unveils-2016-lucky-loonie-circulation-coin-27800037?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint#.WSGvWIm1v3g |title=Royal Canadian Mint Unveils 2016 Lucky Loonie Circulation Coin |work=mint.ca |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708152457/http://www.mint.ca/store/news/royal-canadian-mint-unveils-2016-lucky-loonie-circulation-coin-27800037?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint#.W0IszXbP2Uk |archive-date=July 8, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|2017
|''Connecting a Nation''
|Wesley Klassen
|10,000,000
|Commemorating the [[Canada 150|150th anniversary]] of the Confederation of Canada. The design features the railroad and landmarks such as the [[Lions Gate Bridge]], a prairie [[grain elevator]], the [[CN Tower]], Quebec City's [[Château Frontenac]] Hotel and an East Coast lighthouse. The theme of the coin is "Our Achievements".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2017/2017-canada-150-5-coin-collection-pack-157731?srsltid=AfmBOooR7TmaTzB6T6qQtijxBzI5UwGZbd6NUCJ0HS0oW9nGE5s-SIfi |title=2017 Canada 150 5-Coin Collection |publisher=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|2017
|[[2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto Maple Leafs 100th anniversary]]
|Steven Rosati
|5,150,000
|The design features the [[Toronto Maple Leafs|Leafs]] logo, the double date "1917–2017", two hockey sticks crossed under a Canadian maple leaf, and a hockey puck between the words "Canada Dollar" written around the top of the coin.
|-
|2019
|[[LGBT]] equality
|[[Joe Average]]
|3,000,000<ref>{{cite press release |title=The Royal Canadian Mint's First-Ever Coloured Loonie Marks the 75th Anniversary Of The Signing Of The United Nations Charter |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/the-royal-canadian-mint-marks-50-years-of-progress-in-the-journey-to-equal-rights-for-lgbtq2-canadians-with-1-equality-circulation-coin-877816854.html |website=PRNewswire.ca |access-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401021739/https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/the-royal-canadian-mint-marks-50-years-of-progress-in-the-journey-to-equal-rights-for-lgbtq2-canadians-with-1-equality-circulation-coin-877816854.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|50th anniversary of the [[Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–69#Homosexuality|1969 decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada]]. Design features two overlapping human faces within a large circle, and the word "equality" in both French and English.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mint-coin-loonie-homosexual-rights-1.5095317 "New gay rights coin divides LGBT community — and outrages social conservatives"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508141309/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mint-coin-loonie-homosexual-rights-1.5095317 |date=May 8, 2021 }}. [[CBC News]], April 16, 2019.</ref> The design was issued both as a regular $1 coin and as a limited-edition $10 collector's coin in full colour.<ref>[https://www.straight.com/life/1231621/royal-canadian-mint-launches-canadian-dollar-coin-mark-50-years-lgbt-rights-progress "New Canadian dollar coin marking 50 years of LGBT-rights progress features design by Vancouver's Joe Average"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108002244/https://www.straight.com/life/1231621/royal-canadian-mint-launches-canadian-dollar-coin-mark-50-years-lgbt-rights-progress |date=November 8, 2020 }}. ''[[The Georgia Straight]]'', April 23, 2019.</ref>
|-
|2020
|75th anniversary of the signing of the [[Charter of the United Nations]]
|Joel Kimmel
| {{plainlist|
* 2,000,000 (colour)
* 1,000,000 (regular)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Royal Canadian Mint's First-Ever Coloured Loonie Marks the 75th Anniversary Of The Signing Of The United Nations Charter |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-royal-canadian-mint-s-first-ever-coloured-loonie-marks-the-75th-anniversary-of-the-signing-of-the-united-nations-charter-857815048.html |website=Newswire.ca |access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref>
}}
|In a nod to the UN logo, a world map within an olive branch wreath is paired with a maple leaf to symbolize Canada's commitment to the UN and its values.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 75th Anniversary of the Signing Of The United Nations Charter Collector Keepsake Card |url=https://www.mint.ca/store/coins/2020-75th-anniversary-of-the-signing-of-the-united-nations-charter-collector-keepsake-card-prod3700046 |website=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422042631/https://www.mint.ca/store/coins/2020-75th-anniversary-of-the-signing-of-the-united-nations-charter-collector-keepsake-card-prod3700046 |archive-date=April 22, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|2021
|125th anniversary of the [[Klondike Gold Rush]]
|Jori van der Linde
| {{plainlist|
* 2,000,000 (colour)
* 1,000,000 (regular)<ref>{{cite web |title=New Royal Canadian Mint One-Dollar Circulation Coin tells the Shared History of the Klondike Gold Rush |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-royal-canadian-mint-one-dollar-circulation-coin-tells-the-shared-history-of-the-klondike-gold-rush-879428809.html |website=Newswire.ca |access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref>
}}
|The coin features a rendition of the gold discovery that set off the Klondike Gold Rush. Under the shining sun, Keish ("Skookum" Jim Mason), Shaaw Tlàa (Kate Carmack), Kàa Goox (Dawson Charlie), all of whom were of Lingít and Tagish descent, and George Carmack can be seen panning for gold at the edge of Gàh Dek (Rabbit Creek / Bonanza Creek). The pictorial symbol for Ëdhä Dädhëchą (Moosehide Slide) is highlighted in red and white on coloured coins; it appears on the opposite side of the creek and represents the Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and their deep, abiding connection to the land.<ref>{{cite web |title=Commemorative Collector Keepsake Card – 125th Anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2021/commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-125th-anniversary-of-the-klondike-gold-rush |website=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118192926/https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2021/commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-125th-anniversary-of-the-klondike-gold-rush |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|Celebrating [[Oscar Peterson]]
|Valentine De Landro
| {{plainlist|
* 2,000,000 (colour)
* 1,000,000 (regular)<ref>{{cite news |last=Raymond |first=Ted |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Royal Canadian Mint launches new $1 coin featuring jazz legend Oscar Peterson |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/royal-canadian-mint-launches-new-1-coin-featuring-jazz-legend-oscar-peterson/ |access-date=November 23, 2022 |publisher=CTV News}}</ref><ref>{{cite instagram |user=canadianmint |postid=ChsCfpzoOfj |title=Backstage pass ☑️ |date=August 25, 2022 |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref>
}}
|The coin features Peterson seated at a piano, playing his civil rights anthem "Hymn to Freedom", while musical notes and chord symbols from that piece also appear in the design. Coloured coins feature a purple background as a nod to Peterson's favourite colour.<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 Commemorative Collector Keepsake Card – Celebrating Oscar Peterson |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2022/2022-commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-celebrating-oscar-peterson |website=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028175430/https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2022/2022-commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-celebrating-oscar-peterson |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|175th anniversary of the birth of [[Alexander Graham Bell]]
|Christopher Gorey
| {{plainlist|
* 2,000,000 (colour)
* 1,000,000 (regular)<ref>{{cite instagram |user=canadianmint |postid=Cj-l6dOoqe0 |title=A Canadian celebration of innovation. |date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref>
}}
|The coin features a reproduction of Bell's signature, paired with a portrait of the inventor. He is accompanied schematic illustrations of the ''[[AEA Silver Dart|Silver Dart]]''—the aircraft that achieved the first controlled, powered flight in Canada—and the record-setting [[HD-4|HD-4 hydrofoil]]; both crafts made history on Bras d'Or Lake, represented by the waves that are highlighted in blue on the colourized coin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Collector Keepsake Card – Alexander Graham Bell |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2022/2022-commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-175th-anniversary-of-the-birth-of-alexander-graham-bell |website=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028175430/https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2022/2022-commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-175th-anniversary-of-the-birth-of-alexander-graham-bell |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2023
|Honouring [[Elsie MacGill]]
|Claire Watson
| {{plainlist|
* 2,000,000 (colour)
* 1,000,000 (regular)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/new-canadian-1-coin-honouring-elsie-macgill-unveiled-at-calgarys-hangar-flight-museum/ |title=New Canadian $1 coin honouring Elsie MacGill unveiled at Calgary's Hangar Flight Museum |last=Fleming |first=Kevin |publisher=CTV News Calgary |date=August 1, 2023 |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref>}}
|Featured on the coin is [[Elsie MacGill]], the word ''Canada'' at the top, the word ''dollar'' at the bottom, and a [[Hawker Hurricane]] in the sky which appears in colour on select coins. On the obverse is [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and the dates "1952–2022" in honour of her reign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2023/2023-commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-honouring-elsie-macgill-pack-208337 |title=2023 Commemorative Collector Keepsake Card – Honouring Elsie MacGill |website=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801173014/https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2023/2023-commemorative-collector-keepsake-card-honouring-elsie-macgill-pack-208337 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2024
|150th anniversary of the birth of [[Lucy Maud Montgomery|L. M. Montgomery]]
|Brenda Jones<ref name="LMMontgomery">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-lucy-maud-montgomery-commemorative-coin-1.7246470 |title=New coin etches P.E.I. author Lucy Maud Montgomery into Canadian currency history |last=Brun |first=Stephen |publisher=CBC News |date=June 26, 2024 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Royal Canadian Mint}}</ref>
| {{plainlist|
* 2,000,000 (colour)
* 1,000,000 (regular)<ref name="LMMontgomery" />
}}
|Portrait of Montgomery beside titular character [[Anne of Green Gables]], an open portfolio, and an inkwell. The background of the coin features the landscape of [[Prince Edward Island]], the setting of many of Montgomery's stories, which is coloured on select coins.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/shop/coins/2024/150th-anniversary-of-the-birth-of-l-m-montgomery-colourized-special-wrap-roll |title=2024 $1 150th Anniversary of the Birth of L. M. Montgomery Colourized Special Wrap Roll |access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|2025
|150th anniversary of the [[Supreme Court of Canada]]
|Silvia Pecota<ref name="SCC150">{{cite web |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/blog/2025-04-behind-the-design-supreme-court-of-canada |title=Behind the Design: The Supreme Court of Canada Commemorative $1 Circulation Coin |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=Royal Canadian Mint}}</ref>
| {{plainlist|
* 2,000,000 (colour)
* 1,000,000 (regular)<ref>{{cite instagram |user=canadianmint |postid=DIMtHQvTP9G |title=An emblem of justice, now in circulation. |date=April 8, 2025 |access-date=April 10, 2025}}</ref>
}}
|The Supreme Court of Canada building, with the text "SUPREME COURT OF CANADA" and "{{lang|fr|COUR SUPRÊME DU CANADA}}" on the left and right respectively. In the center, a navy blue emblem with white lettering "150" surrounded on the left by laurels. The emblem is also dated "1875 – 2025".<ref name="SCC150" />
|}

== Terry Fox loonie ==

The Terry Fox Loonie was unveiled in 2005 and designed by Senior Engraver [[Stanley Witten]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/455875188/ |title=Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope Commemorated on New $1 Coin |date=March 15, 2005 |work=The Ottawa Citizen |page=6 |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308145452/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/455875188/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mint.ca/store/mint/about-the-mint/terry-fox-loonie-2005-1600012 |title=Terry Fox Loonie (2005) |website=Royal Canadian Mint |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322174708/https://www.mint.ca/store/mint/about-the-mint/terry-fox-loonie-2005-1600012 |archive-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref> The coin depicts the Canadian athlete, humanitarian, and cancer research activist [[Terry Fox]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/dollar-coin-honours-terry-fox-1.566558 |title=Dollar coin honours Terry Fox |date=March 14, 2005 |website=CBC News |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=March 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315183243/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/dollar-coin-honours-terry-fox-1.566558 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following his design of the 2005 Terry Fox loonie, Witten told the [[Ottawa Citizen]] that "while sculpting the design, I wanted to capture Terry fighting the elements, running against the wind, towering over wind-bent trees on a lonely stretch of Canadian wilderness."<ref name=":0" />

==Specimen set editions==
In 1997, 2002, and each year since 2004, the Royal Canadian Mint has issued a one-dollar coin that depicts a different and unique image of native Canadian animals on the coin's reverse.<ref name="saskatooncoinclub.ca">{{Cite web |url=http://www.saskatooncoinclub.ca/articles/09c_1-dollar_specimen.html |title=Canadian Specimen Set 1 Dollar Coins |website=www.saskatooncoinclub.ca |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013231220/http://www.saskatooncoinclub.ca/articles/09c_1-dollar_specimen.html}}</ref> These special loonies have limited mintages and are available only in the six-coin specimen sets.
[[Image:Big loonie.jpg|right|thumb|The ''Big Loonie'' in [[Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional|Echo Bay]], [[Ontario]]]]
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Theme
!Artist
!Mintage
|-
|1997
|10th anniversary of the loonie<ref name="saskatooncoinclub.ca" />
|Jean-Luc Grondin
|97,595
|-
|2002
|15th anniversary of the loonie<ref>Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, p. 315</ref>
|[[Dora de Pédery-Hunt]]
|67,672
|-
|2004
|[[Jack Miner]] Bird Sanctuary<ref>Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 62nd Edition, p. 236</ref>
|Susan Taylor
|46,493
|-
|2005
|[[Tufted puffin]]<ref>Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 62nd Edition, p. 237</ref>
|Mark Hobson
|39,818
|-
|2006
|[[Snowy owl]]<ref>Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 62nd Edition, p. 238</ref>
|[[Glen Loates]]
|39,935
|-
|2007
|[[Trumpeter swan]]
|Kerri Burnett
|40,000
|-
|2008
|[[Common eider]]
|Mark Hobson
|40,000
|-
|2009
|[[Great blue heron]]
|Chris Jordison
|40,000
|-
|2010
|[[Northern harrier]]
|[[Arnold Nogy]]
|35,000
|-
|2011
|[[Great grey owl]]
|Arnold Nogy
|35,000
|-
|2012
|25th anniversary of the loonie
|Arnold Nogy
|35,000
|-
|2013
|[[Blue-winged teal]]
|[[Glen Loates]]
|50,000
|-
|2014
|[[Ferruginous hawk]]
|Trevor Tennant
|50,000
|-
|2015
|[[Blue jay]]
|[[Brent Townsend]]
|30,000
|-
|2016
|[[Tundra swan]]
|Glen Scrimshaw
|30,000
|-
|2017
|[[Snow goose]]
|Pierre Girard
|30,000
|-
|2018
|[[Burrowing owl]]
|Pierre Girard
|30,000
|-
|2019
|[[Pileated woodpecker]]
|Jean-Charles Daumas
|30,000
|-
|2020
|[[Black-footed ferret]]
|Caitlin Lindstrom-Milne
|25,000
|-
|2021
|[[Blanding's turtle]]
|Pierre Girard
|30,000
|-
|2022
|[[Swift fox]]
|Claude Thivierge
|30,000
|-
|2023
|[[Greater sage-grouse]]
|David Caesar 
|30,000
|-
|2024
|[[Northern leopard frog]]
|Julius Csotonyi 
|30,000
|-
|2025
|[[Monarch butterfly]]
|Julius Csotonyi 
|30,000
|}

==First strikes==
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Theme
!Mintage
|-
|2005
|Common loon
| style="text-align: right;" |1,944
|-
|2005
|Terry Fox<ref name="autogenerated3" />
| style="text-align: right;" |19,949
|-
|2006
|Lucky Loonie
| style="text-align: right;" |20,010
|-
|2006
|With new Mint mark
| style="text-align: right;" |5,000
|-
|2023
|King [[Charles III]] obverse <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mint.ca/en/discover/faces-of-the-monarch/king-charles-effigy |title=A New Royal Era |website=www.mint.ca |access-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108071917/https://www.mint.ca/en/discover/faces-of-the-monarch/king-charles-effigy |url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align: right;" |15,000
|}

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{citation |editor-last=Cross |editor-first=W. K. |title=Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins; Volume One, Numismatic Issues 2012 |year=2011 |edition=66th |publisher=The Charlton Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-0-88968-347-1}}

==External links==
* [http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?canadian_coins=1-dollar-1935-2012 Loonie value – 1935 to today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707081649/http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?canadian_coins=1-dollar-1935-2012 |date=July 7, 2018 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061030195316/http://ncwsnc.cheminst.ca/articles/1991_loonie_e.html The chemistry of the loonie]

{{Canadian currency and coinage}}
{{Portal bar|Canada|Money|Numismatics}}

[[Category:1987 establishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Coins of Canada]]
[[Category:One-base-unit coins|Canadian one-dollar coin]]
[[Category:Birds on coins|Canadian one-dollar coin]]
[[Category:Currencies introduced in 1987|Canadian one-dollar coin]]