- (month unknown)
- Supply and Services Minister Pierre De Bane and the President of the Board of Economic Development Ministers, R.K. Andras, announce that a gold bullion coin would be produced by the Royal Canadian Mint. The Gold Maple Leaf would have a face value of $50, and contain one troy ounce of 0.999 fine gold. The gold bullion program is set for three years, with 1 million coins produced in the first year, to be officially launched in September. [19.1]
- April 5
- A proclamation removes the limitation of 200,000 coins minted for the 1979 $100 gold coin issue. [107.1548]
- May 4
- In Montreal, Monex '79 convention is held. 3291 attend. Auction highlights: 1921 5c gem uncirculated $11,000; 1936 dot 25c BU $2100; 1947 specimen set, blunt $1, CR 50c, $8500; 1946 specimen set $6000; 1929 specimen set $27,000, resold for $40,000 at the convention. [617.29] [620.1] [621.11]
- (month unknown)
- The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada designates the site of the Royal Canadian Mint buildings in Ottawa as a historic site. [218.5]
- July 26
- At Auction '79 in St. Louis, Missouri, Anthony Carrato of the Eagle Coins company in Niagara Falls, Ontario, buys a 1911 $1 pattern for US$160,000 (about CDN$184,000). [18.1] [25.1] [29.26] [630.12] [1100.62] [1101.38] [1119.190] (August [37.21]) (US$165,000 [37.21])
- August
- The Royal Canadian Mint produces test tokens for a 19 mm diameter one cent coin weighing 2.8 grams, for the vending machine industry to test in their equipment. [24.1] [661.213] [642.28] [690.6]
- September 5
- The Royal Canadian Mint launches the gold Maple Leaf bullion coin program. A 1-ounce coin with .999 purity and $50 face value goes on sale in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. [1] [8] [62.2195] [71.2] [152.19] [209.B1] [429.1] [637.1] [1020.38] [1053.56] [1126.42] (September 1 [258.28]) (September 6 [67.684] [169.853] [269.B11]) (September 9? [56])
- September
- The Royal Canadian Mint places a limitation on orders of $1 silver coins to five coins per order. [625.8]
- The Royal Canadian Mint temporarily stops filling orders for $1 silver coins, pending a price review, due to the increased cost of purchasing silver. [625.1,8]
- The Royal Canadian Mint changes the price of the 1979 silver $1 coin from $5.50 to $10.80. This is the first time that the issue price of a collector item is changed during its issue. The change is due to the soaring price of silver. [17.1] [210.9]
- October
- The Canadian Automatic Merchandising Association approves the proposed 2.8 gram one-cent coin. [24.1] [642.28]
- November 22
- The Greater Toronto Coin and Stamp Exhibition (Torex) is held in Mississauga, Ontario. 3752 attend. Tony Carratto displays his creation of a 1911 specimen set, including for the first time the 1911 $1 pattern. [25.1] [622.16] [626.18] [1150.46]
- December 12
- Master of the Royal Canadian Mint Yvon Gariepy announces the design of the 1980 silver $1 coin, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the transfer of Arctic territories from England to Canada. The design was created by Donald Paterson. [24.1] [25.1] [389.79]
- Master of the Royal Canadian Mint Yvon Gariepy announces the design of the 1980 gold $100 coin, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the transfer of Arctic territories from England to Canada. The design was created by Arnaldo Marchetti. [389.79] [25.1]
- December 13
- A proclamation sets the design for the 1980 silver $1 coin, featuring a polar bear on an ice floe, effective January 1, 1980. [109.3]
- A proclamation changes the weight of the $50 gold bullion coin to 480.71 grains, with fineness 999.9, effective January 1, 1980. [109.5]
- December
- The Canadian government announces plans to introduce a thinner, lighter 1c coin. As of January 1, the government will have the authority to mint a 1c coin weighing 2.8 grams with diameter of 19.0 mm. [25.1]
- Year
- Total production of circulating Canadian coins at the Royal Canadian Mint for the year: 1,418,854,221 coins. [15] [34.1] [635.17]
1980
- January 1
- The government gains the authority to mint a one-cent coin weighing 2.8 grams with diameter of 19.0mm and thickness 1.38mm. [25.1] [1114.13]
- Charlton International Publishing releases the 1980 Charlton Coin Guide, 20th Edition, for $1.50. [25.19] [32.10]
- January
- The reduced weight cent goes into production. [14]
- January 30
- A proclamation sets the design of the 1980 $100 gold coin, featuring an Inuit in a kayak, effective January 1, 1980. [110.389]
- (month unknown)
- A 1979 10c struck on a 1c planchent, in uncirculated condition, sells for $2800. [23.7]
- February 4
- Canadian silver coins are removed from the federal export control list, allowing them to be freely exported. The one cent coin remains on the export control list. [23.1]
- February
- The Royal Canadian Mint sets the price of the 1980 silver dollar coin at $22. [210.9]
- March 1
- The Royal Canadian Mint begins selling 1980 silver dollar coins. [210.9] [629.1]
- March 14
- In Montreal, Quebec, the CAND Spring trade show is held. At the auction, a choice BU 1932 50c coin sells for $5000. [629.16] [632.14]
- March
- Charlton Press releases the book Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 30st edition. [640.8]
- March 20
- In Toronto, Ontario, the Spring Torex coin show is held. 4300 people attend. [25.1] [628.1] [632.1]
- (month unknown)
- A 1970 VIP set sells for US$825 at the Florida United Numismatists convention, in Orlando, Florida. [634.7]
- May 2
- In Montreal, Quebec, the Monex '80 coin show is held. 2500 people attend. [629.27] [633.1]
- (month unknown)
- Quote by Robert Aaron in Canadian Coin News: "The Royal Canadian Mint has no plans to replace the Canadian dollar bill with a coin.". (In early 1982 the Mint will begin testing a smaller dollar coin, and in 1985 the Mint will recommend that the government replace the paper $1 with a smaller circulating $1 coin.) [634.7]
- A 1970 VIP set sells for US$1000 at an auction in Van Nuys, California. [634.7]
- At a coin auction in New York, a 1916c gold sovereign sells for US$32,000. [27.1]
- The Royal Canadian Mint begins accepting orders for the 1980 $100 gold Proof coin. Price is $430. Mintage is limited to 300,000. [635] [642.1]
- August 14
- In Cincinatti, Ohio, Paramount International Coin holds the Auction '80 auction, over two days. A Specimen 1870 50c coin sells for $9000. [634] [635.30]
- August 20
- In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, the Royal Canadian Mint unveils the 1980 $100 gold coin, commemorating 100 years since the Arctic islands were transferred from Great Britain to Canada. The coin's image, depicting an Inuk hunting in a kayak, was designed by Arnaldo Marchetti. [22.1] [1018.60] (September 1 [7]) (August 22 [389.361])
- August 21
- In Cincinnati, Ohio, US Secret Service agents seize a Canadian 1970 Manitoba centennial dollar apparently struck in gold, from an auction. The piece may have been illegally struck inside the Royal Canadian Mint. [21.1] [708.7]
- September 1
- The Royal Canadian Mint releases the 1980 $100 0.9167 fine gold coin, commemorating the centennial of transfer of Arctic islands to Canada from Great Britain. Issue price is $430. [7.22] [22] [389.361]
- September 26
- In Calgary, Alberta, the Fall CAND show is held, over three days. [635.17]
- September 27
- Coin auction highlights of the CAND show:
- 5 cents 1921: $1900;
- 25 cents 1875 H AU: $2400;
- 50 cents 1888 Uncirculated: $3000;
- 50 cents 1911 BU: $3000;
- 50 cents 1947 ML CR7 VF/EF: $2400.
[637.7]
- October
- The 1 billionth coin is struck at the Royal Canadian Mint. [13]
- October 15
- In Toronto, Charles D. Moore Auctions hosts a coin auction. A 1921 5c VF-25 sells for $4000. [636.1] [639.11]
- October 16
- Torex '80 is held, over four days. 6500 people attend the show. [632.1] [636.1] [638.1]
- November 14
- In Montreal, Quebec, the Quebex coin show is held, over three days. An 1875 3-coin specimen set sells at auction for $43,000. [635.13] [641.12]
- November
- Charlton Press releases the book Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 31st edition. Price is $3.50. [27.18] [640.8]
- December 5
- The Bank of Canada's Canadian Currency Museum opens to the public. [32.8] [158.16] [1152.44]
- December 18
- A proclamation sets the design of the 1981 $100 gold coin featuring notes of the National Anthem. [115.711]
- Year
- Total production of circulating Canadian coins at the Royal Canadian Mint for the year: 1,302,365,946 coins. [34.1]
1981
- January 20
- The Minister of Supply and Services announces designs for the 1981 silver dollar and $100 gold coins. The silver dollar marks the 100th anniversary of the approval of the government to build the Trans-Canada railway. The $100 gold coin celebrates the adoption, in 1980, of O Canada as the national anthem. [28.1] [31.1] (February [8])
- January 30
- Yvon Gariepy announces that the Royal Canadian Mint will strike Proof coin sets and silver dollars for the first time in Canada. The coins will be available in March. [8] [30.1] [1157.52]
- (month unknown)
- The National Film Board of Canada acquires copies of the film The Trial of the Pyx, a Charlton-produced film about the history of numismatics in Canada. The National Film Board makes the films available for free borrowing. [31.7]
- March
- Eagle Coin Company sells a 1911 silver pattern dollar for $325,000 to Carlton Numismatics, of Birmingham, Michigan. [29.26] [36.4] [121.20] [1119.190]
- (month unknown)
- Canadian Wholesale Supply releases the Canadian Coins, Tokens and Paper Money, 1st Edition, Standard Catalogue, by Will Gandley. [29.25]
- May 1
- In Montreal, the Monex '81 show is held, over three days. An 1870 specimen set (5c, 10c, 25c, 50c) is sold at auction for $59,000. A specimen 1931 50c sells for $10,000. [27.7] [31.11] [665.18]
- May 14
- A proclamation refines the description of the 1981 $100 gold coin, making the four notes of "O Canada" musically accurate. [116.1720]
- The Royal Canadian Mint announces a change to the design of the 1981 $100 gold coin. The modified design adds detail and accuracy to the representation of the first four notes of the national anthem. [28.1]
- (month unknown)
- The Charlton Press releases the 32nd edition of The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Summer 1981. [27.18]
- At an auction in England, a Canadian 1969 25-cent coin struck on a Prussian 1906 gold 20-marks coin is sold. The coin was illegally produced at the Royal Canadian Mint in 1969. [708.1]
- July 12
- The Royal Canadian Mint produces a set of 12-sided one-cent test tokens. [661.215]
- July
- The Royal Canadian Mint announces the availability of the 1981 Royal Wedding Philatelic / Numismatic Cover. [152.19]
- The government Minister of Supply and Services extends the Royal Canadian Mint's gold bullion (Maple Leaf) program for another ten years. [256.2] [692.B12]
- In Toronto, Canada, the Canadian Numismatic Association holds its annual convention, hosted by the Toronto Coin Club. [36.1]
- July 28
- In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Minister of Supply and Services unveils the "O Canada" design for the 1981 $100 gold coin. [10] [26] [65] [667.1]
- (month unknown)
- An the ANA Convention in Milwaukee, a Canadian 50c/$100 mule coin is seized by the FBI and RCMP, being a suspected unauthorized piece. [653.1]
- Calton Numismatics of Birmingham, Michigan, creates the 1911 Dollar Associates syndication, in which investors can purchase shares in ownership of the 1911 $1 pattern, for US$4500 per each of 100 total shares. [669.1]
- September 1
- The 1981 $100 gold coin goes on sale. [26] [28.1]
- September 18
- The Charlton Press releases the 33rd edition of The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins. [668.1]
- (month unknown)
- Empire Industries sells a 1947 specimen set with a "blunt 7" $1 coin for $25,000. [36.4] [671.1]
- November 20
- In Toronto, Ontario, the Toronto International Coin Fair and International Numismatic Society Joint Convention is held. Over 100 dealers and 2600 collectors attend. [670.C4] [672.4]
- November 30
- Master of the Mint Yvon Gariepy resigns, to take a position in marketing at Canada Post. [670.1] [1097.42] (December 1 [1112.28])
- December 10
- A proclamation authorizes the issue of bronze 1c coins, weight 2.5 grams, 12-sided, effective January 1, 1982. [111.690]
- A proclamation changes the composition of the 5c coin to 75% copper, 25% nickel (cupro-nickel), with weight 4.6 grams, effective January 1, 1982. [111.692]
- December 14
- Nickle Arts Museum announces the resurfacing of the original 1858 double set of coins of the Province of Canada. [39.1]
- December 15
- In Regina, Saskatchewan, the Supply and Services Minister launches the 1982 commemorative silver dollar, marking the centennial of the city. The reverse was designed by Huntley Brown. [39.1]
- December 17
- The Supply and Services Minister announces that the 1982 1c piece will be 12-sided, to aid the blind in distinguishing it from the 5c piece. [39.5] [661.63]
- A proclamation allows the year on the $50 gold bullion coin to be the year of issue, effective January 1, 1982. [111.686]
- December 29
- The Supply and Services Minister announces that the 1982 5c piece will be struck in cupronickel (75% copper, 25% nickel). [38.1]
- Year
- Total production of circulating Canadian coins at the Royal Canadian Mint for the year: 1,576,688,000 coins, of which 1.2 billion are 1 cent coins, the highest ever. [34.1] [661.63]
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