Hobbies And Interests
Purchasing
New coins first become available at the Royal Canadian Mint, Canadian banks and post offices. Purchasers can locate older coins through coin dealers, auctions and coin shows.
History
As a former British colony, Canadian coins were originally produced in Britain. In 1908, the first coin was struck on Canadian ground at the Ottawa branch of Britain's Royal Mint. The Ottawa branch transferred ownership to the Canadian government in 1931, changing its name the Royal Canadian Mint.
Denominations
The mint releases coin denominations of one cent, five cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, one dollar and two dollars into circulation. The two dollar coin is the most recent addition to Canadian currency, first released in 1996 to retire the two dollar bill.
Commemorative Coins
In addition to circulation coins, the mint also sells commemorative coins solely for the purpose of collecting. Commemorative coins are struck in denominations ranging from one cent to one million dollars. Commemorative coins are usually made from more valuable material, feature a detailed artistic design and represent Canadian culture.