1985 – 1 Dollar Loonie Canada – Jacques Cartier

The Canadian 1 dollar coin issued in 1985 is known as the “Voyageur Dollar.” It was minted by the Royal Canadian Mint with a composition of 100% nickel, weighing 15.62 grams, and measuring 32.13 mm in diameter with a reeded edge. The obverse features a bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a tiara, designed by Arnold Machin, while the reverse depicts a voyageur and a First Nations man paddling a canoe, designed by Emanuel Hahn. This coin, magnetic due to its nickel composition, was part of a circulation mintage of approximately 3.1 million pieces. It prominently carries the inscriptions “ELIZABETH II D – G – REGINA” on the obverse and “DOLLAR 1985 CANADA” on the reverse, with a medal alignment die axis. The 1985 Voyageur dollar coin precedes the famous “loonie,” which was introduced later in 1987 to replace the dollar banknote in circulation.