1939 – 1 Dollar Loonie Canada

The 1939 Canadian one dollar coin is a commemorative silver dollar minted to celebrate the Royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada. It features an obverse design with the bust of King George VI, created by Thomas Humphrey Paget, and a reverse designed by Emanuel Hahn depicting a voyageur and a First Nations man paddling a birchbark canoe, symbolizing Canada’s heritage. The coin contains 80% silver and 20% copper, weighs 23.33 grams, and has a reeded edge. The reverse bears the Latin inscription “FIDE SVORUM REGNAT,” meaning “He reigns by the faith of his people,” and the obverse has the Latin titles of the king. This coin was the second commemorative silver dollar struck in Canada and had a mintage of about 1.36 million, with some later returned for melting due to lower demand. It is a valued collector’s item today, often worth significantly more than its face value depending on condition.