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: 2009 October 29.


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

1975

January 1
  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins accepting orders for 1975 coin sets and cased dollars. [380.104]
January 9
  • 600 employees of the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, Hull, and Winnipeg go out on strike. [88.11] [542.1]
January 17
  • In Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Toronto, Series III Olympic coin designs are unveiled. Mintage is limited to 5 million coins. Designs are by Ken Danby, depicting cycling, rowing, lacrosse, and canoeing. [542.1] [543.1]
January 20
  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins accepting orders for the third series of Olympic coins. [88.11]
(month unknown)
  • The Canadian Association of Numismatic Dealers (CAND) is incorporated as an origanization of coin dealers. [635.16]
February
  • Revenue Canada - Taxation rules that any legal tender of Canada or foreign countries are eligible for inclusion in a registered retirement savings plan. [380.107]
March 1
  • Charlton International Publishing releases the 1975 Charlton Coin Guide, 15th edition, by J.E. Charlton. Price is 75 cents. [544.51]
March 8
  • The branch mint in Winnipeg, Manitoba, begins producing Canada's circulation coins. [14] [45.24] [172.240]
March
  • Revenue Canada - Taxation reverses its decision to allow coins and currency in RRSPs, stating that coins or bills worth more than face value are commodity items, which are not allowed in an RRSP. [380.178]
  • The workers' strike at the Royal Canadian Mint ends. [88.72] [545.1]
April 16
  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins selling the third set of Olympic commemorative $5 and $10 silver coins. Banks and coin dealers also begin making the coins available to the public. [661.279] [346.92] [562.1]
(month unknown)
  • Finance Minister John Turner cancels a proposed commemorative $1 coin marking the opening of the new Winnipeg branch mint. [380.195]
June 6
  • Yvon Gariepy is appointed Master of the Mint, effective June 15. [36.6] [564.4] [565.4] [567.1] [670.1]
June 15
  • Gordon Hunter, master of the Royal Canadian Mint, retires. [563.1] [567.1] [569.46]
(month unknown)
  • Charlton International Publishing releases the 1976 Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Tokens, and Paper Money, 24th Edition, by J.E. Charlton. Price is $3.95. [564.58]
  • In Long Beach, California, Paramount Numismatics auctions off 15 Canadian coins from the recently discovered Heaton Mint hoard. Five coins are presented as MS-70. [704.B3]
  • The Guiness Book of World Records describes the Canadian 1911 $1 silver trial piece as the world's rarest coin. [776.0]
July 11
  • A bill passes in Parliament authorizing the production of special gold coins to provide revenue for the 1976 Olympic Summer Games. Two coins would be produced, a 22K Proof coin, and a 14K uncirculated quality coin, both with $100 face value. [567.4] (July 30 [60.1416])
July 16
  • In Calgary, Alberta, the Canadian Numismatic Association holds its annual convention. [631.23] [566.38]
  • At the CNA convention, Master of the Mint Yvon Gariepy announces that a commemorative $1 coin for 1976 would mark the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Library of Parliament. He also announces two Olympic gold coins for 1976, and a silver $1 coin for 1978 commemorating the Commonwealth games in Edmonton. [380.311] [566.38]
August 8
  • The Olympic Coin Design Committee selects the design for Olympic $100 gold coins. [567.4]
  • In Montreal, Inter-Exchange Inc. holds an unofficial launch of the Series IV Olympic coins, before the official launch. The company had obtained coins from dealers in Europe, where coins had been sent in preparation for the official launch. [567.4]
August 12
  • In Toronto, Inter-Exchange again holds a press conference to show the Series IV Olympic coins, prior to the official launch. [567.4]
  • In Toronto, Bryce Mackesey, Postmaster General and minister responsible for the Olympic Coin Program, officially launches Series IV $5 and $10 silver Olympic coins. The coins depict Olympic track and field sports. The coins will be available for sale after September 1. [661.280] [346.96] [567.1] [569.1]
September 2
  • Series IV Olympic coins to go on sale at banks, dealers, and other retail outlets. [567.10]
September
  • A television commercial airs in the United States, promoting the Canadian Olympic coins. [569.23]
October 11
  • In a column in the Coin, Stamp, Antique News newspaper, Jerry Remick suggests the Mint reduce the circulating nickel $1 coin to 29mm and be 7 or 12 sided; and introduce $2, $5, $10 coins of sizes 34mm, 38mm, and 45mm, respectively, [568.24]
December 1
  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins selling the fifth set of Olympic commemorative $5 and $10 silver coins. [661.281] [346.100]

1976

March 1
  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins selling the sixth set of Olympic commemorative $5 and $10 silver coins. [661.282] [346.104]

March
  • Postmaster General Bryce Mackesey unveils the designs of the Series VII Olympic $5 and $10 coins, designed by Elliott Morrison. The coins will be available for sale on June 1. [572.1]
  • Gross sales of the 1976 Olympic silver coins is reported as nearly $200 million, and net profits near $50 million. [152.19] [572.1]
(month unknown)
  • In New York, a 1921 50c coin sells for $31,000. [578.12]
April 1
  • In Ottawa, the Olympic $100 gold coin is launched. Governor-General Jules Leger presents the first Proof $100 gold to Kathy Kreiner, gold medal winner in slalom at Innsbruck. The coin was designed by Dora de Pedery-Hunt. The 22K proof coin will be sold by special reservation by those who have purchased the 28 silver Olympic coins. The 14K uncirculated version is to go on sale June 15. [5] [574.1]
April 15
  • The 22K Proof Olympic $100 gold coin is released, priced at $150 until June 15. [575.4]
April 30
  • The Winnipeg branch of the Royal Canadian Mint is officially opened. It houses 31 coining presses, capable of producing 700 million coins per year in one shift of workers. [2] [45.12] [172.240] [257] [298] [576.1] [577.4] [592.4] [655.20] [693.6]
(month unknown)
  • In Alberta, the cornerstone of the Elbow Park Elementary school is opened, revealing 10c, 25c, and 50c coins dated 1921, in uncirculated condition. [578.12]
May 16
  • At the Ontario Numismatic Association convention in Toronto, the 1911 silver pattern dollar is sold at auction to Douglas Robins of Oregon, for $110,000. The piece is from the John McKay-Clements collection. This price is tied for 8th highest paid for a coin in the world. Douglas Robins also buys a choice uncirculated 1921 5c for $5,200, and a choice uncirculated 1921 50c for $21,000. [2] [29.26] [152.19] [340.1] [602.1] [620.1] (May 15 [578.1,12] [37.21])
May 27
  • In the House of Commons, John Reynolds introduces the Numismatic Hobby Protection Act as a private member's bill. Bill C-439 would amend the Criminal Code, making it illegal to manufacture copies of non-current coins of numismatic value without clearly labelling them as copies. [581.1] [590.1] [698.12]
June 1
  • The Royal Canadian Mint begins selling the seventh and final set of Olympic commemorative $5 and $10 silver coins. [661.283] [346.108]
June 15
  • The official release price of $105 for the 14K $100 Olympic gold coin and $150 for the 22K version expires, allowing coin dealers to sell remaining inventory at free market prices. [575.4] [579.4]
(month unknown)
  • Charlton International Publishing releases the 25th Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins Tokens and Paper Money, 1977 Edition. Price is $4.50. [580.1]
  • In Ottawa, the Canadian Numismatic Association holds its annual convention. [631.23]
  • Canadian gold producers approach the Government with the concept of putting gold production to use in coinage beyond the limited production $100 collector coins. [692.B12]
  • Walter Ott replaces Patrick Brindley as chief engraver at the Royal Canadian Mint. [683.22]
July 3
  • Publisher Offset Make-Up releases the first issue of Canadian Coin News newspaper, formerly called Coin, Stamp, Antique News. [415.28] [659.20.4]
September 30
  • Revenue from sale of Olympic coins to date: $371 million, net profit: $110 million. [595.78]
October 11
  • Douglas Robins sells the 1911 silver pattern dollar to Gene Henry of Rare Coin Galleries, Seattle, Washington for US$135,000. [2] [29.26] [386.413] [582.1] [583.4] [602.1]
October 22
  • For the second time, a Numismatic Hobby Protection bill is introduced in the House of Common, seeking to make it illegal to make replicas of non-current numismatic coins without clearly marking them as copies. (The bill passes the House of Commons, but not the Senate.) [583.1] [585.4] [590.1] [594.1] [596.1] [698.12]
October
  • The 1976 Olympic Coin Program is terminated. [606.1]
Year
  • For the year, the Royal Canadian Mint produces silver coins totalling 8.4 million troy ounces, the highest silver consumption for coins in the world, 20% above the next highest. [595.8]

End of 1975-1976. Next: 1977.
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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


A list of references to all source material is available.

Other web pages of interest:

  • Chronology of Canadian NCLT Coins
  • Chronology of Canadian Circulating Coins
  • Chronology of Canadian Maple Leaf Coins
  • Canadian Maple Leaf Bullion Coins
  • Canadian Coins: Type Collecting
  • Ken P's Coin Page
  • Ken P's Coin/Stamp/Bill Novelties
  • What's Notable about the Year XXXX for Canadian Coin Collectors?
  • Polsson's Garage Sale - Canadian Coins
  • Ken P's Today in History
  • Last updated: 2009 October 29.
    Copyright © 1995-2009 Ken Polsson (email: kpolsson@islandnet.com).
    URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/cancoin/
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