Royal Canadian Mint Olympic coins
Since the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the Royal Canadian Mint has struck Summer and Winter Olympic coins to mark Games held in Canada.
1976 Montreal Summer Games
Most numismatists agree that the first true numismatic collection was the Olympic Five and Ten Dollar coins for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Starting in February 1973, the Royal Canadian Mint engaged in a very ambitious program. At the behest of the federal government, led by then-Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, it was agreed that these coins would help finance and commemorate the 1976 Summer Olympics.The plan was to have thirty coins, twenty-eight silver coins with face values of $5 and $10, and two gold coins. This would signify the first time that the RCM issued coins with face values of $5 and $10. These coins would be categorized into seven series with each series configured into four coin sets. The seven series were constituted as follows:
- Geographic
- Olympic Motifs
- Early Canadian Sports
- Olympic Track and Field Sports
- Olympic Water Sports
- Olympic Team and Body Contact Sports
- Olympic Souvenirs
A key highlight of these coins were the standardized designs and the unique finishes. All 28 coins were styled in a similar fashion. The top aspect of the coin had the Olympic logo, its denomination, and the wording in the same spot. The finishes consisted of two different styles that had never been used on Canadian coinage. The first finish was a satin or frosted effect which adorned the coin. The second finish was a proof finish, which consisted of frosted lettering and a design set off against a brilliant mirror field. The RCM had to obtain special equipment to achieve the desired finish.
A very limited number of the $5 and $10 coins were initially sold by the bank in styrofoam packing and the coins were NOT encapsulated. The coins could be purchased loose, and individually
1976 Montreal Olympic Coins
Series 1| Year | Coin Number | Face Value | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Issue Price |
| 1973 | Coin No. 1 | Ten Dollars | Map of World | Georges Huel | 543,098 | $12.00 | $14.00 |
| 1973 | Coin No. 2 | Five Dollars | Map of North America | Georges Huel | 537,898 | $6.00 | $7.50 |
| 1973 | Coin No. 3 | Ten Dollars | Montreal Skyline | Georges Huel | Included in mintage of No. 1 | $12.00 | $14.00 |
| 1973 | Coin No. 4 | Five Dollars | Kingston and Sailboats | Georges Huel | Included in mintage of No. 2 | $6.00 | $7.50 |
Series 2
| Year | Coin Number | Face Value | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Issue Price |
| 1974 | Coin No. 5 | Ten Dollars | Head of Zeus | Anthony Mann | 1,990,570 | $15.00 | $17.00 |
| 1974 | Coin No. 6 | Five Dollars | Athlete with Torch | Anthony Mann | 1,974,939 | $7.50 | $9.00 |
| 1974 | Coin No. 7 | Ten Dollars | Temple of Zeus | Anthony Mann | Included in mintage of No. 5 | $15.00 | $17.00 |
| 1974 | Coin No. 8 | Five Dollars | Olympic Rings and Wreath | Anthony Mann | Included in mintage of No. 6 | $7.50 | $9.00 |
Series 3
| Year | Coin Number | Face Value | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Issue Price |
| 1974 | Coin No. 9 | Ten Dollars | Lacrosse | Ken Danby | 1,990,570 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1974 | Coin No. 10 | Five Dollars | Canoeing | Ken Danby | 1,974,939 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
| 1974 | Coin No. 11 | Ten Dollars | Cycling | Ken Danby | Included in mintage of No. 9 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1974 | Coin No. 12 | Five Dollars | Rowing | Ken Danby | Included in mintage of No. 10 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
Series 4
| Year | Coin Number | Face Value | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Issue Price |
| 1975 | Coin No. 13 | Ten Dollars | Men's Hurdles | Leo Yerxa | 1,985,000 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1975 | Coin No. 14 | Five Dollars | Marathon | Leo Yerxa | 2,476,217 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
| 1975 | Coin No. 15 | Ten Dollars | Women's Shot Put | Leo Yerxa | Included in mintage of No. 13 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1975 | Coin No. 16 | Five Dollars | Women's Javelin | Leo Yerxa | Included in mintage of No. 14 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
Series 5
| Year | Coin Number | Face Value | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Issue Price |
| 1975 | Coin No. 17 | Ten Dollars | Paddling | Lynda Cooper | 1,985,000 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1975 | Coin No. 18 | Five Dollars | Diving | Lynda Cooper | 2,476,217 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
| 1975 | Coin No. 19 | Ten Dollars | Sailing | Lynda Cooper | Included in mintage of No. 17 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1975 | Coin No. 20 | Five Dollars | Swimming | Lynda Cooper | Included in mintage of No. 18 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
Series 6
| Year | Coin Number | Face Value | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Issue Price |
| 1976 | Coin No. 21 | Ten Dollars | Field Hockey | Shigeo Fukada | 1,887,630 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1976 | Coin No. 22 | Five Dollars | Fencing | Shigeo Fukada | 1,985,257 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
| 1976 | Coin No. 23 | Ten Dollars | Soccer | Shigeo Fukada | Included in mintage of No. 21 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1976 | Coin No. 24 | Five Dollars | Boxing | Shigeo Fukada | Included in mintage of No. 22 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
Series 7
| Year | Coin Number | Face Value | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Issue Price |
| 1976 | Coin No. 25 | Ten Dollars | Olympic Stadium | Elliott John Morrison | 1,887,629 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1976 | Coin No. 26 | Five Dollars | Olympic Village | Elliott John Morrison | 1,985,257 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
| 1976 | Coin No. 27 | Ten Dollars | Olympic Velodrome | Elliott John Morrison | Included in mintage of No. 25 | $15.75 | $17.00 |
| 1976 | Coin No. 28 | Five Dollars | Olympic Flame | Elliott John Morrison | Included in mintage of No. 22 | $8.00 | $9.00 |
100 Dollar Gold
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price |
| 1976 | Olympic Commemorative | Dora de Pédery-Hunt | 650,000 | $105.00 |
| 1976 | Olympic Commemorative | Dora de Pédery-Hunt | 350,000 | $150.00 |
1988 Calgary Winter Games
Heading into the 1980s, the Olympics would return to Canada. The city of Calgary would host the 1988 Winter Olympics. Starting in 1985, the Federal Government, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, issued a ten coin set to help finance and commemorate the Olympic games. In similar style to the Montreal Olympics, the RCM would introduce coins with a face value that had never been used before. Said coins would feature a $20 face value. These coins were issued in Proof quality only, and were sold with the partnership of the Royal Bank of Canada. Unlike the Montreal coins, mintage was limited to 5,000,000 coins and this would mark the first time that any silver coin had edge lettering on it. Said lettering was 'XV OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES - JEUX D'OLYMPIQUES D'HIVER.' There are existing varieties that have missed the edge lettering process. The 10 coins were also available in a green felt case with an Olympic logo on the outside and a Royal Canadian Mint medallion on the inside. The cost was $370. The medallion could be removed and the gold coin, offered separately, could be placed into its place. The numbered and signed Certificate of Authenticity was included in the cases internal cover recess. The entire case was fit into a white cardboard sleeve with the Olympic logo on the outside.1988 Calgary Olympic Coins
One Hundred Dollar Gold| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Face | Weight | Composition |
| 1987 | XV Olympic Winter Games | Friedrich Peter | 145,175 | $255.00 | $100 | 13.338 grams | 58.33% Au/41.67% Ag |
Olympic Centennial
The International Olympic Committee decided to commemorate the Centennial of the Olympic Games by issuing a coin set. This was a collaborative effort with five Mints contributing coins. The first three coins were issued by the RCM in 1992. The other Mints included Austria, Australia, France, and Greece.Two of the coins were silver with a face value of $15 while the third coin was gold and had a face value of $175. The $15 coins were sold individually or in a set. The individual coins were packaged in a burgundy leatherette case while the set was featured in a wooden display case. Both $15 coins featured lettering on its edge: CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS. The $175 coin featured a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Juan Antonio Samaranch. The lettering on its edge was the same as the lettering found on the silver coins. There are a few very rare examples of these coins with a plain edge. These plain edge coins were once held by the investment firm responsible for the $50 million Ohio Coingate Scandal.
100th anniversary coins
2004-2016 Olympics
Circulation coins
Lucky Loonie
For the first time, the 2010 Olympic Lucky Loonie does not have a loon on it, instead has the 2010 Vancouver winter Olympic symbol ilanaaq, an inukshuk.| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage |
| 2004 | Lucky Loonie | R.R. Carmichael | 6,526,000 |
| 2006 | Lucky Loonie | Jean-Luc Grondin | 10,495,000 |
| 2008 | Lucky Loonie | Jean-Luc Grondin | 10,841,000 |
| 2010 | Lucky Loonie | Susanna Blunt | 10,250,000 |
| 2012 | Lucky Loonie | Emily S. Damstra | 5,000,000 |
| 2014 | Lucky Loonie | Emily S. Damstra | 5,000,000 |
| 2016 | Lucky Loonie | Derek Wicks | 5,000,000 |
First Strikes
Numismatic coins
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Special Notes |
| 2002 | Centre Ice Coin | R.R. Carmichael | 25,000 | $54.95 | This coin was to commemorate Canada's Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Victory in Men's and Women's Hockey at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. It was part of the Going for the Gold Set, which included Olympic stamps and MacLean's magazine. Another feature of the coin was that it was a double dated coin featuring the years 1987 and 2002. |
| 2004 | Sterling Silver Lucky Loonie | R.R. Carmichael, RCM Staff | 19,941 | $39.95. | To commemorate 2004 Athens Olympics |
| 2006 | Sterling Silver Lucky Loonie | Jean-Luc Grondin | 19,956 | $39. | To commemorate 2006 Torino Olympics |
2010 Vancouver Olympics
Circulation Coins
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Circulation Coin Program consists of 17 coins: 15 quarters and 2 Loonies. The D.G. Regina inscription will be removed from the Queen's effigy, making the 25-cent coins one of the few "godless circulating coins", a rare event in Canadian coinage. The first circulating $1 coin will be dated 2008 but the obverse will be the standard effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt with the wording "ELIZABETH II" and "D.G. REGINA" with the Circle M privy mark.- 2007 Five different Olympic commemoratives were minted for circulation.
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Release Date |
| 2007 | Curling | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | February 24 |
| 2007 | Ice Hockey | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | April 4 |
| 2007 | Wheelchair curling | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | July 11 |
| 2007 | Biathlon | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | September 12 |
| 2007 | Alpine Skiing | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | October 24 |
All of these coins were also made available at service stations, encapsulated on a credit card-sized card. Many pressings of the Alpine Skiing coin released to service stations and to special 2010 Winter Olympic "coin boards" in October 2007 were the victim of a pressing error called a mule, with a 2008 obverse accidentally minted rather than the expected 2007. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, "sports cards" and 10,000 "coin board" sets were released with the error before it was caught.. A similar mule occurred with the Wheelchair Curling issue, with an obverse featuring the standard Vancouver 2010 logo being used instead of the Paralympic logo. Both coins subsequently found demand in the collectors market. 2009 bobsleigh mules have also been found in circulation and colourized carded coins.
- 2008 Three different Olympic commemoratives were minted for circulation.
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Release Date |
| 2008 | Snowboarding | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | February 20 |
| 2008 | Freestyle Skiing | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | April 16 |
| 2008 | Figure Skating | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | November 18 |
- 2009 Five different Olympic commemoratives are planned for circulation. The proposed medalist coins are now the Olympic moments coins, and three million of each moments coins will have red colouring.
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Release Date |
| 2009 | Cross Country Skiing | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | January 15 |
| 2009 | Speed Skating | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | March 12 |
| 2009 | Bobsleigh | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | June 23 |
| 2009 | Men's Ice Hockey | Jason Bouwman | 22,000,000 | September 29 |
| 2009 | Men's Ice Hockey | Jason Bouwman | 2,800,000 | September 29 |
| 2009 | Men's Ice Hockey | Jason Bouwman | 200,000 | September 29 |
| 2009 | Women's Ice Hockey | Jason Bouwman | 22,000,000 | November 17 |
| 2009 | Women's Ice Hockey | Jason Bouwman | 3,000,000 | November 17 |
- 2010 Two different Olympic commemoratives are planned for circulation.
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Release Date |
| 2010 | Cindy Klassen | Jason Bouwman | 22,000,000 | January 5 |
| 2010 | Cindy Klassen | Jason Bouwman | 3,000,000 | January 5 |
| 2010 | Ice sledge hockey | Glen Green | 22,400,000 | March 18 |
Twenty-Five Cents
First Strikes| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Release Date |
| 2007 | Curling | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | February 24 |
| 2007 | Ice Hockey | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | April 4 |
| 2007 | Wheelchair curling | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | July 11 |
| 2007 | Biathlon | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | September 12 |
| 2007 | Alpine Skiing | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | October 24 |
| 2008 | Snowboarding | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | February 20 |
| 2008 | Freestyle Skiing | Glen Green | 10,000 | $15.95 | April 16 |
| 2009 | Bobsleigh | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | June 23 |
Special Edition Coin rolls
- As these rolls were sold directly from the Royal Canadian Mint in a special red paper wrapping.
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Release Date |
| 2007 | Curling | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | February 24 |
| 2007 | Ice Hockey | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | April 4 |
| 2007 | Paralympic Curling | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | July 11 |
| 2007 | Biathlon | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | September 12 |
| 2007 | Alpine Skiing | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | October 24 |
| 2008 | Snowboarding | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | February 20 |
| 2008 | Freestyle Skiing | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | April 16 |
| 2009 | Bobsleigh | Glen Green | 10,000 | $16.95 | June 23 |
Special edition uncirculated coin sets
Numismatic coins
Special Edition Proof Dollars
Twenty-Five Dollars
Specifications| Composition | Finish | Weight | Diameter | Special Notes |
| 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper | Proof | 27.78 | 40 | First ever holographic coin collection for the Olympic Winter Games |
| Year | Sport | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Release Date |
| 2007 | Curling | Steve Hepburn | 45,000 | $69.95 | February 24 |
| 2007 | Ice Hockey | Steve Hepburn | 45,000 | $69.95 | April 4 |
| 2007 | Athletes Pride | Shelagh Armstrong | 45,000 | $69.95 | July 11 |
| 2007 | Biathlon | Bonnie Ross | 45,000 | $69.95 | September 12 |
| 2007 | Alpine Skiing | Brian Hughes | 45,000 | $69.95 | October 24 |
| 2008 | Snowboarding | Steve Hepburn | 45,000 | $71.95 | February 20 |
| 2008 | Freestyle Skiing | John Mardon | 45,000 | $71.95 | April 16 |
| 2008 | Home of 2010 Winter Games | Shelagh Armstrong | 45,000 | $71.95 | July 23 |
| 2008 | Figure Skating | Steve Hepburn | 45,000 | $71.95 | September 10 |
| 2009 | Bobsleigh | Bonnie Ross | 45,000 | $71.95 | June 23 |
| 2009 | Speed Skating | Tony Bianco | 45,000 | $71.95 | February 18 |
| 2009 | Cross Country Skiing | TBD | 45,000 | $71.95 | April 15 |
| 2009 | Olympic Spirit | TBD | 45,000 | TBD | July 22 |
| 2009 | Skeleton | TBD | 45,000 | TBD | September 9 |
| 2009 | Ski Jumping | TBD | 45,000 | TBD | October 7 |
Seventy-Five Dollars
Specifications| Composition | Finish | Weight | Diameter | Special Notes |
| 58.33% gold, 41.67% silver | Proof | 12 | 27 | Canadian Culture, Wildlife, and Winter Games themes |
| Year | Design | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price | Release Date |
| 2007 | RCMP | Cecily Mok | 8,000 | $389.95 | February 24 |
| 2007 | Athletes Pride | Shelagh Armstrong | 8,000 | $389.95 | July 11 |
| 2007 | Canada Geese | Kerri Burnett | 8,000 | $389.95 | October 24 |
| 2008 | Four Host First Nations | Jody Broomfield | 8,000 | $409.95 | February 20 |
| 2008 | Home of 2010 Winter Games | Shelagh Armstrong | 8,000 | $409.95 | July 23 |
| 2008 | Inukshuk | Catherine Deer | 8,000 | $409.95 | October 29 |
| 2009 | Wolf | Arnold Nogy | 8,000 | $433.95 | February 18 |
| 2009 | Olympic Spirit | TBD | TBD | TBD | June 17 |
| 2009 | Moose | TBD | TBD | TBD | September 9 |
Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars
Specifications| Composition | Finish | Weight | Diameter | Special Notes |
| 99.99% pure silver | Proof | 1,000 | 101.6 | First time that RCM has produced a pure silver coin with guaranteed weight of 1 kilo |
| Year | Design | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price |
| 2007 | Early Canada | Stan Witten | 2,500 | $1,299.95 |
| 2008 | Towards Confederation | Susan Taylor | 2,500 | $1,599.95 |
| 2009 | Surviving the Flood | Royal Canadian Mint Engravers | 1,500 | $1,599.95 |
Three Hundred Dollars
Specifications| Composition | Finish | Weight | Diameter | Special Notes |
| 58.33% gold, 41.67% silver | Proof | 60 | 50 | Repeated on each coin is a circle of sculpted faces looking into three different central designs |
| Year | Design | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price |
| 2007 | Olympic Ideals | David Craig, Laurie McGaw | 2,500 | $1,499.95 |
| 2008 | Competition | David Craig, Laurie McGaw | 2,500 | $1,565.95 |
| 2009 | Friendship | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
Specifications| Composition | Finish | Weight | Diameter | Special Notes |
| 99.99% pure gold | Proof | 1,000 | 101.6 | First time that RCM has produced a pure gold coin with guaranteed weight of 1 kilo |
| Year | Design | Artist | Mintage | Issue Price |
| 2007 | Early Canada | Stan Witten | 20 | $36,000.00 |
| 2008 | Towards Confederation | Susan Taylor | 20 | $49,000.00 |
| 2009 | Surviving the Flood | Royal Canadian Mint Engravers | 40 | $49,000.00 |
Bullion Coins
The Royal Canadian Mint and the International Olympic Committee have reached an agreement on Olympic Gold and Silver Maple Leaf coins. The announcement was made on August 3, 2007 and the agreement allows the RCM to strike bullion coins with the emblems of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The issue will consist of two coins: one Gold Maple Leaf coin and a Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin and both coins will feature the date of 2008. The new agreement means that the RCM is now selling Olympic coins through all of its major business lines: bullion, circulation, numismatics.2010 Winter Paralympics
Two commemorative circulation coins for the 2010 Winter Paralympics were issued. They are listed on the above chart but are also listed separately for easier reference.Specifications
| Years | Weight | Diameter/Shape | Composition |
| 2007-present | 4.4 g | 23.88 mm | 94.0% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating |
Details
| Date of Issue | Sport | Artist | Mintage |
| July 11, 2007 | Wheelchair curling | Glen Green | 22,400,000 |
| March 18, 2010 | Ice sledge hockey | Glen Green | 22,400,000 |
Both 2010 Winter Games
Mascot Coins
Each Mascot coin features each of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic mascots: Miga, Quatchi and Sumi. But no coin features Mukmuk, a "sidekick" of these mascots.| Year | Mascot | Diameter | Weight | Issue Price |
| 2008 | Miga | 23.88mm | 4.4 g | $15.95 |
| 2008 | Quatchi | 23.88mm | 4.4 g | $15.95 |
| 2008 | Sumi | 23.88mm | 4.4 g | $15.95 |
Mascot Sport Poses
Each Mascot sport pose coin features either or both Miga and Quatchi and single Sumi. But no coin features Mukmuk, a "sidekick" of these mascots. All coins had a face value of 50 cents, were packaged in a plastic sleeve, and the issue price was $9.95.| Mascot | Sport Pose |
| Miga | Alpine skiing |
| Quatchi and Miga | Bobsleigh |
| Quatchi and Miga | Figure skating |
| Miga | Ice Hockey |
| Quatchi | Ice Hockey |
| Quatchi | Parallel Giant Slalom |
| Sumi | Paralympic Alpine Skiing |
| Sumi | Paralympic Sledge Hockey |
| Miga | Skeleton |
| Miga | Ski Aerials |
| Quatchi | Snowboard Cross |