1974 – 1 Dollar Loonie Canada

The Canadian 1 dollar released in 1974 exists in two main forms: a commemorative coin and a banknote. The coin was issued to celebrate Winnipeg’s 100th anniversary, featuring a bust of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and the inscription “WINNIPEG 100 1874-1974 CANADA DOLLAR” on the reverse. It was designed by Arnold Machin (obverse) and Paul Pederson (reverse), composed of nickel, with a weight of 15.62 grams and a diameter of 32.13 mm, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint. The banknote version, part of the Scenes of Canada series, debuted in June 1974 and shows a tugboat among logs on the Ottawa River beneath Parliament Hill, based on a photograph by Malak. This was the last $1 note issued by the Bank of Canada before the dollar coin was introduced later in the decade. Both the coin and note reflect the blend of Canadian cultural and historical symbolism as well as technological minting advances of their time.