150th Anniversary of Canada - 2017 Canadian Coins
By thecanadiannumismatist | Friday, 23 February 2024
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint launched circulation and special collection coins in 2017. 50 years before, Alex Colville was chosen to design the 1967 Canadian coins.
The contest started on March 11, 2015, when the Mint invited the public to create new designs from five theme perspectives: Our Wonders, Our Character, Our Achievements, Our Passions and Canada's Future for the reverse of the 2017 circulating coins.
Like the rest of Canada, the Mint is looking forward to July 1st to celebrate everything that makes our country great. Over time, the Canada 150 circulation coins will become lasting keepsakes of this incredible year, so find them and hold on to them for future generations to enjoy.
- Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint
A stylized maple leaf was added under the bust on the obverse. A free Canada 150 collector card was also offered by the Royal Canadian Mint to hold the following coins.
5 cents
By Gerald Gloade, the reverse shows the Canadian beaver in the traditional style of the Algonkian.
Characteristics
- Alloy: Nickel-plated steel
- Weight: 3.95 g
- Diameter: 21.2 mm
- Thickness: 1.76 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Die axis: ↑↑
This 5-cent coin reimagines the quintessential Canadian beaver in the traditional style of the northeastern woodland Algonkian tribes, celebrating 150 years of cultures meeting, sharing and evolving together.
- Royal Canadian Mint
5 cents 2017 price guide and values
10 cents
After thousands of Canadians took part in a national contest to create the commemorative circulation coin designs, the work of Albertan Amy Choi was chosen for the reverse or tail of the 10 cents 2017 coins. After the public cast over one million online votes, Ms. Choi's design won the popular vote among five finalists in the running for the coin celebrating Our Character. The art is called Wings of Peace and is a stylized design featuring an iconic maple leaf in the beak of a dove.
My coin design expresses the hope that, one day, the offering of the maple leaf will be as symbolic as the offering of an olive branch. Since Canada is known world-wide for its desire to promote peace, cooperation and diversity, I was moved to combine the maple leaf and the dove as my way to show what I admire most about my country.
- Amy Choi
Characteristics
- Alloy: Nickel-plated steel
- Weight: 1.75 g
- Diameter: 18.03 mm
- Thickness: 1.22 mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Die axis: ↑↑
10 cents 2017 price guide and values
25 cents
By Joelle Wong, it features a pair of hands bringing life to a plant. The art is called Hope for a Green Future and a coloured version was made.
Characteristics
- Alloy: Nickel-plated steel
- Weight: 4.4 g
- Diameter: 23.88 mm
- Thickness: 1.6 mm
- Edge: Reeded
- Die axis: ↑↑
This 25-cent coin shares a child's hope for Canada's abundant nature to be preserved for years to come.
- Royal Canadian Mint
25 cents 2017 price guide and values
1 dollar
By Wesley Klassen, the design pays tribute to the railways that have brought our country together and the many impressive landmarks along Canada's rail routes. The art is called Connecting a Nation.
Characteristics
- Alloy: Brass-plated steel
- Weight: 6.27 g
- Diameter: 26.5 mm
- Edge: Plain
- Die axis: ↑↑
1 dollar 2017 price guide and values
2 dollars
The Wesley Klassen design features design the Northern Lights. The art is called Dance of the Spirits. A coloured version and first world circulating coin to glow-in-the-dark version was also made.
Characteristics
- Alloy: Nickel-plated steel (ring) and Brass plated aluminium bronze (core)
- Weight: 6.99 g
- Diameter: 28 mm
- Edge: Interrupted serrations
- Die axis: ↑↑
2 dollars 2017 price guide and values
Many special collectors coins were also released including several silver coins.
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