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Both the French and British set up colonies in Canada, but in by 1763, the British had gained control over all of New France. Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec) were united as the Province of Canada on February 5, 1841, and the Dominion of Canada was established on July 1, 1867.

The French Colonial Franc (XFCL) and British Pound Sterling (GBP) were used in Canada during colonial times. The French Colonial Livre traded at a 20% premium from July 18, 1654 until October 7, 1661, at a 33.3% premium until March 2, 1662, and a 50% premium thereafter. The New France government often issued playing cards as money. The first French coins were minted in Canada in 1670 and continued to be issued until 1760. Nevertheless, French, English, Dutch, Spanish and US coins circulated through the nineteenth century. Private token, minted in Britain were used in Canada until 1858. Nova Scotia (1823), New Brunswick (1843), Prince Edward Island (1871) and Newfoundland (1840) issued coins and tokens of their own. The first coins issued for Canada were minted in 1858, although technically this was a provincial issue for Canada (Ontario and Quebec). The first coins issued for the Dominion of Canada were struck in 1870 and were similar to US coins.

Canada adopted the Dollar as its currency on January 1, 1858 setting the Canadian Dollar, divisible into 100 Cents, and equal to the United States Dollar. Canada allowed private banks to issue banknotes until 1935 when the Bank of Canada gained a monopoly over the right to issue banknotes. Until 1912, the Dominion of Canada issued all banknotes under $5 and private banks issued all banknotes of $5 or more, leading to the issue of $4 notes. Many of the banknotes issued by chartered banks prior to 1935 are still redeemable. Canada left the Gold Standard on October 19, 1931.

This 1/2 penny was issued by the Upper Bank of Canada in 1857. The obverse features St. George on horseback slaying a dragon. The reverse depicts the banks coat of arms, with the inscription around the rim, 'Bank of Upper Canada'.

• Weight:
• Diameter: 28mm
• Material: Copper
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: Rowe, Kentish & Co., London, Birmingham Mint.
• Mintage: 3,000,000
• Krause # KM-Tn2

Reverse

Here is a 1978 dated Silver Dollar. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II, young bust right. Queen Elizabeth was born 'Elizabeth Alexandra Mary' on April 21st, 1926. She is the reigning queen and head of state of 16 independent sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms, as Head of the Commonwealth, she is the figurehead of the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations and, as the British monarch, she is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The subject of the reverse is the XI commonwealth Games, and depicts the logo at center, surrounded by icons of the games.

• Weight: 23.3276g
• Diameter: 36mm
• Material: Silver
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 709,602
• Krause # KM-121

Reverse

This 1 dollar coin is dated 1979. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II, young bust right. In February 1945, the then Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service. She trained as a driver and mechanic, drove a military truck, and is now the last surviving head of state who served in uniform during the Second World War. The reverse depicts the Canadian ship, The Griffon (a 17th century sailing ship built by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in his quest to find the Northwest Passage to China and Japan).

• Weight: 23.3276g
• Diameter: 36mm
• Material: Silver
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 826,695
• Krause # KM-124

Reverse

This is a 1982 dated Silver Dollar. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II, young bust facing right. Although Queen Elizabeth's birth placed her third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle Edward (Prince of Wales), and her father. Due to the death of King George V in 1936, the 1936 abdication of her uncle, King Edward, and the Febuary death of King George VI in 1952 ....The little girl born as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, became Queen Elizabeth in Febuary 1952. The reverse depicts a cattle skull dividing dual dates and denomination.

• Weight: 23.3276g
• Diameter: 36mm
• Material: Silver
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 758,958
• Krause # KM-133

Reverse

• Weight: 23.3276g
• Diameter: 36mm
• Material: Silver
• Edge: reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 506,847
• Krause # KM-138

Reverse

Here is a 1991 dated proof Silver Dollar. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II, crowned head facing right. Queen Elizabeth has an interest in equestrianism and dogs, especially her Pembroke Welsh Corgis. The queen has owned more than 30 corgis, starting with 'Susan' who was her 18th birthday present. The reverse depicts the ship Frontenac, with the date and denomination below. Built by American contractors in 1816 at Ernesttown, the Frontenac was the first steamboat launched on the Great Lakes.

• Weight: 23.3276g
• Diameter: 36mm
• Material: Silver
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 195,424
• Krause # KM-179

Reverse

MEDALS

Here is a 1939 Canadian medal commemorating the visit of King George and Queen Elizabeth.

To commemorate the visit, the Royal Canadian Mint struck three series of commemorative medallions: 77 mm
presentation medals in gold, silver and tombac, 38 mm bronze and silver medallions for sale to the public, and a 25
mm bronze medallion which was distributed to Canadian school children. The Obverse featuring the conjoined
profiles of George VI and Elizabeth was designed by Percy Metcalf and was also used on the 1937 British
Coronation Medal. The reverse, designed by Emanuel Hahn, shows a map of Canada and the route followed by the
royal couple during their visit.

• Weight:
• Diameter: 31mm
• Material: Copper
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage:
• Krause # KM- NA (Medal)

Reverse

Here is a 1953 medal issued to commerorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

• Weight:
• Diameter: 33.5mm
• Material: Copper
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage:
• Krause # KM- NA (Medal)

Reverse

• Weight:
• Diameter:
• Material:
• Edge:
• Mint:
• Mintage:
• Krause # KM-

Reverse