Canada 25 cents - Elizabeth II 1967

The coin's story

This silver 25 cents coin belongs to the commemorative series of 1967. For the centenary of Canadian Confederation (1867-1967), the Royal Canadian Mint replaced the designs of all denominations with animals drawn by the painter Alex Colville: a dove for the cent, a rabbit for the 5 cents, a mackerel for the 10 cents, a lynx for the 25 cents, a wolf for the 50 cents and a Canada goose for the dollar. The 25 cents shows a prowling lynx, chosen to evoke self-reliance, action and decisiveness. During the year, the alloy changed from 800 to 500 thousandths silver, and the two versions cannot be told apart by eye. The obverse bears the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II with a tiara, designed by Arnold Machin. The coin was struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa in 48,855,500 pieces, all versions combined.