Chronology of Canadian Coins

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 October 23.


1970

February
  • Supply and Services Minister James Richardson proposes Winnipeg as a site for a new coining plant. [172.239]
April 30
  • The design competition for the 1971 $1 coin closes. [354.5]
(month unknown)
  • Myron Cook performs a slight reworking of the reverse die for the 25c coin. [380.150]
  • In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Canadian Numismatic Association holds its convention. [631.23]
  • At the CNA convention, the Royal Canadian Mint sells about 100 1970 VIP specimen sets for $12 each. This is the first time such sets are sold by the Mint to the public. The sets have been produced for official use since 1964. [634.7]
  • Gordon Hunter is appointed Master of the Royal Canadian Mint. [563.1] [683.22]
  • Patrick Brindley replaces Myron Cook as chief engraver at the Royal Canadian Mint. [683.22]
  • At Peter Degraaf's coin store in Ottawa, a woman shows Degraaf a 1969 large date 10c coin. (This is the first known occurrence of the coin outside the mint until a second example appears in 1977.) [694.18]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint strikes eight 25c coins from cupro-nickel blanks as a test. Six are destroyed. [621.42]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint strikes four 1970-dated $1 Manitoba commemorative coins in silver, the same size as the circulating nickel $1 coin, as a test. [624.41]
  • Hans Zoell publishes the Minor Coin Varieties book, third edition. [627.7]
August
  • Finance Minister Edgar Benson announces the winner in the design competition for the reverse of the 1971 nickel dollar coin. It is won by Thomas Shingles, who receives $3500. Three runners-up receive $500 each. [2] [248.31] [278] (July 3 [354.244])
Year
  • Total coins produced during the year: 340 million, all Canadian, generating $9 million in revenue. [15] [635.19]

1971

March
  • In the Journal of the Canadian Numismatic Association, Jerry Remick makes some suggestions for future Canadian coins: issue Proof sets and proof dollar coins, make 50c coin a commemorative, change size, shape, and metal content of circulating $1 coin, issue $2 or $5 coin, make $5-$50 gold coins, and never produce coins only for collectors. [436.76]
(month unknown)
  • At the Torex show, a 1970 VIP set sells for $150. [634.7]
August 26
  • In Vancouver, British Columbia, the Canadian Numismatic Association hold its convention, over three days. [436.291] [631.23]

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August 28
  • At the CNA convention, the Wark uncirculated 1921 50c coin sells at auction for $8937, to a mail bid from New York City. [436.291]
October 8
  • The Finance Minister announces a design competition for a 1973 $1 coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Prince Edward Island's entry into Confederation. Closing date of the competition is February 1, 1972. [436.319]
December
  • Cabinet approves the recommendation to locate a new mint facility in the Winnipeg area. [172.239] [548.10]

1972

April 1
  • A Proclamation sets the design, dimensions, and composition of the 1972 $1 coin. [205]
June
  • The Federal Government buys a 296 acre site from the City of Winnipeg for a new mint facility. [172.240] [517.1] [548.10]
(month unknown)
  • The Finance Minister announces the winner of the design competition for the 1973 $1 coin commemorating Prince Edward Island's joining Canada in 1873. Trence Manning wins $3500. Three runners-up will receive $500 each. [377.238]
  • At an auction, a 1970 VIP set sells for $350. [634.7]
  • Patrick Brindley makes modifications to the canoe design of the $1 coin. [380.148]
  • J.E. Charlton publishes the 1973 Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Tokens and Paper Money, 21st edition. Price is $2.50 cloth bound, or $3.95 with paper cover. [518.6]
  • At an auction, a 1970 VIP set sells for $650. [634.7]
October
  • Construction work begins on the site of a new mint facility in Winnipeg. [548.10]

1973

January 24
  • A group of coin dealers meet to discuss creating a Canadian coin dealers association to police its members. (Two years later, the Canadian Association of Numismatic Dealers is incorporated.) [22.16] [24.15]
January 26
  • Olympic organizer Louis de Chantigny unveils plans for a proposal to market commemorative Olympic coins for the 1976 Summer Olympic games in Montreal, Quebec. The 4-year series of $5 and $10 silver coins, and $100 gold coins, will be issued to collectors to help fund the Olympic games. [1] [59.959]
February 2
  • The government approves special coins for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. [59.967]
February
  • Initial meetings are held at the Royal Canadian Mint to discuss producing coins for the 1976 Olympic Games. [172.232]
May
  • Ground breaking begins for the new mint facility in Winnipeg. [559.24]
June 8
  • Bill C-196 is introduced in the House of Commons to permit striking Olympic commemorative coins. [59.1032] [379.10] [569.12]
(month unknown)
  • All 1968 and earlier Canadian silver coins are added to the federal export control list, making their export illegal without a permit. [23.1]
July 19
  • In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the Canadian Numismatic Association holds its annual convention, over three days. [520.11] [546.20] [547] [549.1] [631.23]
  • At the Canadian Numismatic Association conference in Saskatoon, Charlton International Publishing releases the Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Tokens & Paper Money, by James E. Charlton. Price is $2.95. [548.16]
July 27
  • Parliament and the Senate approve Bill C-196, allowing the production and sale of commemorative coins to help fund the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. [59.1053] [379.10] [543.41] [569.1] (July 17 [569.16]) (August [549.1])
August 25
  • Assistant Deputy Postmaster Garth Campbell announces details of the $450 million commemorative coin issues planned for the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. 28 coins are to be issued with face values of $5 and $10. [378]
August
  • Design work is completed on the first series of Olympic silver coins. [172.232]
(month unknown)
  • At the American Numismatic Association convention in Boston, Massachussettes, Postmaster General André Ouellet outlines details of the Canadian 1976 Olympic coin program. [550.1]
September 19
  • Postmaster General André Ouellet holds a news conference to unveil the first series of designs for commemorative coins for the 1976 Olympic Games. [378.278]
November 14
  • In the minting facility of the Royal Canadian Mint in Hull, Quebec, Postmaster General André Ouellet strikes the first $5 coin for the 1976 Olympic Coin Program. [45.12] [551.28]
(month unknown)
  • After the first few Olympic coins are produced, it is discovered that there should be no "th" or "e" after "XXI". The coins and dies are destroyed. [551.1]
December 11
  • André Ouellet launches the Canadian Olympic Coin Program. [379.7] [569.14]
December 12
  • Banks across Canada begin making individual $5 and $10 Olympic coins available at face value. [379.8]

1974

  • In Toronto, Ontario, the Royal Canadian Mint unveils designs of the 1974 silver and nickel dollar coins, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. [553.1]
January
  • Banks across Canada are informed that supplies of two of the four Olympic commemorative coins in the first series have been exhausted. [379.158]
(month unknown)
  • Gary Lazeo of Monarch Coin and Stamp Galleries discovers that some 1973 25c coins have the 1972 obverse, rather than the specially-made 1973 obverse. [533.26]
April
  • Finance Minister John Turner announces a design competition for the 1975 $1 coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the City of Calgary, Alberta. Closing date for submissions is July 31. First prize is $2000. [379.156] [534.1]
(month unknown)
  • Due to the rising cost of silver, the Olympic Coin Program decides not to release Series II coins to circulation. [379.308]
  • A hoard of about 600 mint state Canadian coins struck by the Heaton Mint during 1872 to 1904 is discovered. Many coins are graded Perfect MS-70. (The coins are sold and auctioned off in small groups over the next ten years.) [704.B1]
  • Charlton International Publishing releases the 1975 Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Tokens, and Paper Money, 23rd edition. [560.1]
October 10
  • Fall Torex is held, in Toronto, Ontario. Over 5000 people attend over four days. [20.1] [539.1] [556.8]
(month unknown)
  • A major error is discovered in one of the 1973 Olympic $10 coins, with the wrong obverse with the 1974 date. The error is limited to a single die, resulting in 8-10,000 coins produced. [540.1]
  • The Royal Canadian Mint discovers an error in the design of one of the $10 Series III 1976 Olympic coins. A human figure was accidentally given two right feet. About 48,000 coins had been struck, which are all destroyed. [380.71]
Year
  • Total coin production at the Royal Canadian Mint for the year: 1.2 billion. [569.44]

End of 1970-1974. Next: 1975.

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1842-1889 1890-1919 1920-1939 1940-1959 1960-1964 1965-1969 1970-1974 1975-1976 1977-1978 1979-1981
1982-1984 1985-1987 1988-1990 1991-1992 1993-1995 1996-1997 1998-1999 2000-2001 2002-2003 2004
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011-end


A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2023 October 23.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/coinhist/canada/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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