When you’re sifting through your change, keep an eye out for rare Canadian coins that could turn out to be valuable in the future. The Royal Canadian Mint has released a variety of unique commemorative coins over the past few years, including green toonies, blue dimes, and purple loonies, each one rarer than traditional circulation coins.
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According to the Royal Canadian Mint, these commemorative circulation coins are “more exclusive” and harder to find than standard coins. In fact, over 23 million $1 coins and 8 million $2 coins are minted every year, but most commemorative coins have a limited mintage of only 3 million. The Mint explains that a large portion of these special coins is often kept by collectors, which reduces the amount circulating in the economy, making them even rarer.
So, if you’re lucky enough to come across these limited-edition coins, it’s worth holding onto them—they may increase in value over time! Here’s a list of some of the rarest and most unique Canadian coins you should look for:
1. L. M. Montgomery Loonie (2024)
This $1 coin celebrates the famous Canadian author, L. M. Montgomery, known for Anne of Green Gables. The coin showcases a portrait of Montgomery, her signature, and a depiction of Anne Shirley gazing at the Prince Edward Island farmland. The coin features vibrant colours, including blue for the sky and orange and green for the farmland. With only 3 million coins minted, this one is certainly a keeper!
2. Jean-Paul Riopelle Toonie (2023)
Honouring the renowned artist Jean-Paul Riopelle, this $2 toonie features part of his artwork from 1992, L’Hommage à Rosa Luxemburg. The coin includes beautiful orange, blue, brown, and white hues. Only 3 million of these coins were minted, making them highly collectible.
3. Inuit Nunangat Toonie (2024)
This coin celebrates Inuit Nunangat and features artwork from four Indigenous artists. The design includes the spirit of the sea, Nuliajuk, along with arctic wildlife. The inner core of the toonie is light blue, adding to its distinctive look. With only 3 million coins minted, this coin is a rare find.
4. Oscar Peterson Loonie (2022)
Commemorating the life of Oscar Peterson, a legendary Canadian jazz pianist, this $1 loonie features a portrait of Peterson playing piano, with purple accents—his favourite colour. A limited edition of 3 million coins, including 2 million with purple accents, makes this loonie even more special.
5. Bill Reid Toonie (2020)
This $2 coin honors Haida artist Bill Reid, with his iconic Grizzly Bear artwork, Xuu.ajii, depicted on the inner core. The coin is adorned with the red, white, and black colours that represent Haida artistic tradition. Three million coins were minted, with two million featuring the full coloured design.
6. National Indigenous Peoples Day Toonie (2023)
To celebrate the cultural heritages of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, this $2 toonie features three distinct designs. The coin’s inner core is green with red, orange, white, and black accents. With a mintage of only 3 million, it’s a must-have for collectors.
7. Alexander Graham Bell Loonie (2022)
This $1 coin celebrates the 175th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell’s birth. The design features Bell alongside his inventions, the HD-4 Hydrofoil and the Silver Dart, with blue streaks symbolizing the sky. The mintage was limited to 3 million coins, with two million featuring the blue design.
8. Equality Loonie (2019)
This $1 coin commemorates the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ2 rights in Canada. Designed by Vancouver artist Joe Average, it features intertwined faces symbolizing gender fluidity. With a limited mintage of 3 million, this coin is a notable addition to any collection.
9. Insulin Toonie (2021)
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, this $2 coin features a design highlighting the insulin molecule. With 3 million coins minted—two million in coloured versions—this toonie is an important piece of medical history.
10. World War II Victory Toonie (2020)
This $2 coin honors the 75th anniversary of World War II’s end and Canadian veterans. It features a purple “V” for Victory, overlaid with a flaming red and orange torch. The coin’s outer ring includes a message in Morse code: “We win when we work willingly.” With a limited mintage of 3 million, it’s a significant coin for history buffs.
11. Klondike Gold Rush Loonie (2021)
This $1 loonie marks the 125th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush, featuring the key figures involved in the discovery of gold. The coin includes a red icon to represent the Moosehide Gathering place. Two million coloured versions were minted, alongside one million uncoloured versions.
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12. Northern Lights Toonie (2017)
The “Dance of the Spirits” toonie, released for Canada 150, features a breathtaking design of the northern lights above a canoeing scene. This $2 coin is the world’s first coloured bimetallic coin, with glow-in-the-dark technology incorporated. A limited mintage of these coins makes them a rare find.
13. Bluenose Dime (2021)
Canada’s first coloured dime, the 2021 Bluenose dime, features a splash of blue beneath the iconic Bluenose schooner, evoking the North Atlantic waters. Six million of these dimes were minted, but the coloured versions are more difficult to find.
14. Summit Series Toonie (2022)
This $2 toonie commemorates Canada’s iconic 1972 Summit Series hockey victory. The inner core of the toonie features two Team Canada hockey players skating with a maple leaf emblem. The mintage of these coins was limited to 3 million, including 2 million with a fully coloured inner core.
15. Queen Elizabeth Toonie (2022)
A unique $2 coin, the Queen Elizabeth toonie features a black-nickel outer ring as a symbol of mourning following the Queen’s death. The coin also includes a polar bear on the inner core. Almost five million of these coins were minted, making them rare due to the distinctive black ring.
16. United Nations Loonie (2021)
Released for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, this $1 coin showcases the UN’s olive branch wreath and Canada’s red maple leaf. The blue and red colours make it a striking addition to your collection. The mintage was limited to 3 million, with 2 million featuring the coloured design.
17. RCAF Toonie (2024)
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, this $2 coin features a dark blue inner core with the RCAF roundel above a military aircraft. A total of 3 million coins were minted, with two million coloured versions making it a rare find.
18. Elsie MacGill Loonie (2023)
Honouring Elsie MacGill, the first female aeronautical engineer and “Queen of the Hurricanes,” this $1 coin features a blend of green and brown hues to represent military camo. The coin also has red and blue accents to represent the RCAF. With a mintage of 3 million coins, it’s a rare piece to add to your collection.
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