Canadian Quarter

Written: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 3:23 pm PST

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Perfect for a parking meter, gumball machine, or a satisfying addition to your piggy bank, the Canadian quarter is a well liked piece of change. You will not see a quarter being referenced in derogatory phrases such as ‘being nickel and dimed’, the quarter is still a worthy piece of metal. It is even referred to as a measurement guide, as in ‘about the size of a quarter’.

  1. . In 1967, some of the Canadian dimes and quarters were minted in 80% silver while the remainder were minted in 50% silver. In 1968, some of the Canadian dimes and quarters were minted in 50% silver while the remainder were minted in 99.9% nickel. The nickel versions will stick to a magnet.
  2. Canadian Quarter (1967-1968): Silver Content=.0937 Troy ounces, Gross Wt.=5.81 grams By mid-1968, silver was removed from all Canadian circulating coins of these denominations. To determine the approximate silver melt value of a Silver Canadian Coin, multiply the amount of silver (in Troy ounces) by the current spot price of silver.
  3. You are: Home » Canadian coins » Price guide and values » 25 cents 1965 to 2017 25 cents 1965 to 2017 Click on a coin to view additional values, details and varieties about it.
  4. What Is the Numerical Grading System for Canadian Coins? Canadian coins receive grades based on condition, which greatly affects the price and worth. Professionals use a numerical scale that ranges from 1 to 70, with 'Good' coins rating at 4, 'Fine' coins rating at 12, and 'Mint Condition' coins rating at 56.

The technical name for what we call a quarter is a ‘25-cent piece’. First created in 1870, the Canadian quarter has a long history of change, having gone through many makeovers, inside and out.
Over time, the back of the quarter has showcased numerous kings and queens. Beginning with Queen Victoria in 1870, followed by King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, and finally, since 1953, Queen Elizabeth II.

The content of the quarter has altered considerably, from the weight of the coin, to the quality and quantity of metals, the ingredients have slowly evolved.

This table shows the composition of metals in quarters going back 140 years.

Production YearComposition
1870 – 1910 .925 Silver, .075 Copper
1910 – 1919 .925 Silver, .075 Copper
1920 – 1952 .800 Silver, .200 Copper
1953 – 1967 .800 Silver, .075 Copper (other 12.5% unknown)
1967b – 1968a .500 Silver, .500 Copper
1968b – 1999 .999 Nickel
2000 – present .940 Steel, .038 Copper, .022 Nickel Plating

Determining the silver content in each quarter is easy, just check the date and calculate. The chart below gives a quick summary. Dollars, half dollars, quarters and dimes from 1920 - 1966 are all 80% silver by weight. As an example, $10 worth of quarters from 1966 would contain 6.56 oz, or 7.20 troy oz of pure silver. With today’s prices of $16.90 per troy ounce, the 'melt' value of the coins would work out to $121.68.

Production YearTotal Weight
Silver Weight (oz)Silver Weight (troy oz)
1870 – 1910 .204 oz.188.171
1910 – 1919.205 oz.189.172
1920 – 1952.205 oz.164.149
1953 – 1967.205 oz.164.149
1967b – 1968a.178 oz.089.081
1968b – 1999 .178 oz00
2000 – present.155 oz00

Note: A troy ounce is a unit of measurement used to gauge the weight of precious metals. One troy ounce is equivalent to 1.097 ounces.

The tricky part is that at one point, the quarter changed composition mid-year. Quarters made in 1967 and 1968 could go one way or another. An easy way to test this is with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the coin, it is made of nickel. If it doesn’t stick, the composition is likely to include silver.

Generally, it does not work well when a currency can be “melted down” for more money than the face value of the coin. Changing the material makeup of the currency has been the solution, one that has been used repeatedly over the course of the last century.

So, next time you’re getting on the bus, going through a toll booth or washing your clothes at the Laundromat, check the dates on those old coins. You never know, you may be holding a quarter worth more than its value.

ONLINE COINS CATALOG

Kingdom of Canada in the British Commonwealth

Canadian Dollar=100 cents


quarter (25 cents) 1967
silver
Confederation Centennial
quarter (25 cents) / CANADA 1867 1967
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - $5-6
quarter (25 cents) 1973
nickel
Royal Canadian Mountain Police
CANADA / 25 CENTS / 1875 1970
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Prince Edward Island
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ILE DU
PRINCE EDUARD / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - North West Territories
NORTH WEST TERRITORIES TERRE
DE NORD QUEST / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Newfoundland
NEWFOUNDLAND TERRE NUOVE / 25 CENTS
CanadianELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Ontario
ONTARIO / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - British Columbia
BRITISH COLUMBIA COLOMBIE BRITANIQUE / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Saskatchewan
SASKATCHEWAN / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - New Brunswick
NEW BRUNSWICK NOVEAU BRUNSWICK / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Quebec
QUEBEC QUEBEC / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992Values
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Nova Scotia
NOVA SCOTIA NOUVELLE ECOSSE / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Manitoba
MANITOBA / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Alberta
ALBERTA / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1992
nickel
125th Anniversary of Confederation - Yukon
YUKON / 25 CENTS
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA / 1867-1992
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
January
JANUARY 1999 JANVIER / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
February
FEBRUARY 1999 FEVRIER / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
March
MARCH 1999 MARS / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
April
APRIL 1999 AVRIL / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
2017 - 150 yearsnickel
May
MAY 1999 MAI / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
June
JUNE 1999 JUIN / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
July
JULY 1999 JUILLET / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
August
AUGUST 1999 AOUT / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
September
SEPTEMBER 1999 SEPTEMBRE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
October
OCTOBER 1999 OCTOBRE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
November
NOVEMBER 1999 NOVEMBRE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 1999
nickel
December
DECEMBER 1999 DECEMBRE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Health
HEALTH 2000 SANTE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Achievement
ACHIEVMENT 2000 REALISATION / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Wisdom
WISDOM 2000 SAGESSE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Ingenuity
INGENUITY 2000 INGENIOSITE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Harmony
HARMONY 2000 HARMONIE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Freedom
FREEDOM 2000 LIBERTE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Pride
PRIDE 2000 FIERTE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Creativity
CREATIVITY 2000 CREATIVITE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Natural Legacy
NATURAL LEGASY 2000 PATRIMOINE NATUREL / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Celebration
CELEBRATION 2000 CELEBRATION / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Community
COMMUNITY 2000 COMMUNAUTE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2000
nickel
Family
FAMILY 2000 FAMILLE / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) without date (2002)
nickel plated steel
Golden Jubilee
CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA / 1952 2002 / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2004
nickel plated steelCanadian
Remembrance Day
CANADA 2004 / REMEMBER SOUVENIR
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2004
nickel plated steel
400th Anniversary of the First Settlement
quarter (25 cents) /CANADA / 1604 2004
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2005
nickel plated steel
Alberta
quarter (25 cents) /CANADA / ALBERTA 1905 2005
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2005
nickel plated steel
Saskatchewan
quarter (25 cents) /CANADA / 1905 SASKATCHEWAN 2005
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2005
nickel plated steel
Year of Veterans
quarter (25 cents) /CANADA 2005
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2006
nickel plated steel
Breast Cancer
quarter (25 cents) CANADA / 25 CENTS CANADA / quarter (25 cents) CANADA
ELIZABETH II 2005 D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2007
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Hockey
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADAELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2007
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2007
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Ski
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADAELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2007
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2007
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Curling
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADAELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2007
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2008
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Freestyle
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADAELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2008
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2008
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Skateboard
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADAELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2008
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2008
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Bobsleigh
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010

Canadian Quarter Values By Year

CANADA ELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2008
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2008
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Figure Skating
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADA ELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2008
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2009
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Short Track
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADA ELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2008
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2009
nickel plated steel
Olympic Games in Vancouver - Skates
quarter (25 cents) / VANCOUVER 2010
CANADA ELIZABETH II D G REGINA 2008
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2008
nickel plated steel
Remember Souvenir
1918 ARMISTICE 2008 / REMEMBER SOUVENIR
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2010
nickel plated steel
65th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War
quarter (25 cents) / 1945 2010 / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2011
nickel plated steel
CANADA 25 CENTS 2011
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2012
nickel plated steel
Heroes of 1812 war - Isaac Brock
quarter (25 cents) / BROCK / 1812
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA 2012
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2013
nickel plated steel
Heroes of 1812 war - Charles de Salaberry
quarter (25 cents) / DE SALABERRY
ELIZABETH II CANADA D G REGINA 2013
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2013
nickel plated steel
North Life
quarter (25 cents) 2013 / CANADA
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2013
nickel plated steel
100th Anniversary of the Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913-1916
CANADA 25 CENTS / ARCTIC EXPEDITION

Your Old Canadian Quarters May Now Be Worth $50,000 - MTL Blog

1913-2013 EXPEDITION DANS L'ARCTIQUE
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2015
nickel plated steel
70th Anniversary of the end of the
Second World War
CANADA / REMEMBER SOUVENIR
ELIZABETH II 2015 D G REGINA / 25 CENTS
Coin value - ~$1
quarter (25 cents) 2015
nickel plated steel
50th Anniversary of the Canadian Flag
CANADA 2015 25 CENTS / 50 YEARS / ANE
ELIZABETH II D G REGINA
Coin value - ~$1

See also:
Other Canadian commemorative coins
Canadian old coins (till 1952)
Canadian modern coins
US dollars
US cents