Throughout its history, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced some of the rarest and most valuable coins in the world. As a result, Canadian coins are some of the best investment-grade collectibles around and are also very fun to collect. There are particularly interesting pieces which hold great value for a number of different reasons and circumstances. Keep reading to learn which three coins are the rarest and most valuable in Canada.
What Are 3 of the Most Valuable Coins in Canada?
There are different ways in which one can observe the value of collectible coins, though rarity and price are usually the most defining ones. If you were to take a look at most rankings that focus on rare and valuable Canadian coinage, you’d typically find the following three included by default:
- The 1911 Canadian Silver Dollar
- The 1921 50 Cent
- The 1921 5 Cent
The 1911 Canadian Silver Dollar
If you had to name one coin as the Holy Grail of Canadian coins, the 1911 Canadian Silver Dollar would definitely be worthy of the title. It’s held the record as the most valuable coin in the world for years and only three examples of it were ever struck, two of which in silver and one in bronze. One example is out there somewhere for collectors, while the bronze example and one of the silver examples are housed at the Canadian Currency Museum in Ottawa. This coin fetched nearly 1 million dollars at a 2003 auction.
The 1921 50 Cent
The 1921 50 Cent is a classic Canadian rarity that has earned the nickname “King of Canadian Coins.” Nearly the entire mintage of 50 cent coins was melted down because of low demand, even though you’ll find various information regarding the original mintage. Only a handful of these coins exist today (some say less than 75) and it is believed that they came from business strikes and specimen sets that were sold to visitors of the Mint back in 1921. Existing in all manner of different grades, these coins can fetch between $40,000 and $250,000 at auction.
The 1921 5 Cent
If you were to actually refer to the 1921 50 Cent piece as the “King of Canadian Coins,” then you’d have no choice but to refer to the 1921 5 Cent piece as the “Prince of Canadian Coins.” This interesting and rare coin has a similarly storied history as its larger denomination cousin. The RCM was looking to introduce a new 5 cent coin made from nickel in 1921 for the 1922 coinage. The Mint actually ended up melting down its entire inventory of silver 5 cent coins in preparation for its launch, and almost all of the coins it had melted were 1921s. Similar to 50 cent coins, all 1921 5 Cents are believed to exist because they were business strikes and specimen sets that were sold to Mint visitors in 1921. Present in various grades, these coins can fetch between $4,000 and $100,000.
Have a Collection? Get it Evaluated at Colonial Acres to Discover its True Value
Coins can be a fickle thing and you never really know what treasure you may have in your collection. That’s why it is a good idea to have your coins professionally inspected and evaluated to determine whether or not you have a rare and valuable piece similar to the Canadian 5 Cent. This goes for both beginner and more experienced collectors. There’s no better place to get your collection thoroughly examined than at Colonial Acres Coins. Colonial Acres is home to an expert team of professional numismatists that perform a wide range of skilled services, such as appraisals, inspections, evaluation, consignment and more. Colonial is also home to countless rare and valuable coin pieces, so get in touch with the Colonial team today and you might just be in for a surprise.