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Articles
Canada's milestone gold coins: the $100 series and the 1967 $20
From the 1967 Centennial $20 to the $100 gold coins of 1976–1989: what each Royal Canadian Mint coin commemorates, its gold content and how to collect them.
This page is part of the MintedMarket Knowledge Center. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Please consult qualified independent professionals before making investment decisions.
From the 1960s to the end of the 1980s, the Royal Canadian Mint marked national milestones with gold coins. Each tells a piece of Canadian history, and because each contains a set amount of gold, they are valued both by collectors and by people buying gold. Here is a guide to the best-known ones.
The 1967 $20 Centennial coin
For Canada’s 100th anniversary in 1967, the Mint struck a $20 gold coin showing the Canadian coat of arms. It was sold in the Centennial proof set and contains 0.5288 oz of gold (0.900 fine). See the coin.
The $100 gold coin series (1976–1989)
Starting with the Montreal Olympics in 1976, the Mint issued a $100 gold coin almost every year. In general, the coins from 1977 to 1986 contain 1/2 oz of gold in 22-karat gold, and the coins from 1987 on contain 1/4 oz in 14-karat gold.
| Year | Theme | What it marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Montreal Olympics | The Summer Olympic Games in Montreal. Issued in two versions: 14-karat and a 22-karat proof (22k). |
| 1977 | Queen's Silver Jubilee | 25 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, with a bouquet of provincial and territorial flowers. |
| 1978 | National Unity | Canada’s unity, under the title “Together”. |
| 1979 | International Year of the Child | The United Nations’ Year of the Child, with children linking arms. |
| 1980 | Arctic Territories | Canada’s North, with an Inuk paddling a kayak. |
| 1981 | O Canada | The official adoption of “O Canada” as the national anthem. |
| 1982 | Patriation of the Constitution | The Constitution Act, 1982, which brought the constitution home and added the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. |
| 1983 | Sir Humphrey Gilbert's landing | 400 years since Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England in 1583. |
| 1984 | Jacques Cartier | 450 years since Cartier landed at Gaspé in 1534. |
| 1985 | National Parks Centenary | 100 years of Canada’s national parks, which began at Banff in 1885. |
| 1986 | International Year of Peace | Maple and olive branches intertwined: Canada and peace. |
| 1987 | Calgary Olympics | The XV Olympic Winter Games, held in Calgary in 1988. |
| 1988 | Bowhead Whale | Canada’s endangered wildlife, with a bowhead whale. |
| 1989 | Sainte-Marie | 350 years since Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, the first European settlement in what is now Ontario, in 1639. |
The story behind “O Canada”
“O Canada” was first performed in Quebec City in 1880, with music by Calixa Lavallée and French words by Adolphe-Basile Routhier. English versions followed, and the one by Robert Stanley Weir from 1908 became the basis of today’s English lyrics. Parliament made it Canada’s official national anthem in 1980, a century after it was first sung, and the 1981 $100 coin celebrates that decision with a map of Canada and the opening notes of the music.
Bringing the Constitution home
Until 1982, changing Canada’s constitution required an act of the British Parliament. The Constitution Act, 1982, proclaimed by the Queen in Ottawa on April 17, 1982, ended that and added the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The 1982 $100 coin marks the occasion.
Collecting these coins
- Gold content sets the floor. Each coin’s value follows the gold price, plus collector interest.
- Original packaging matters. Coins with their original box and certificate usually sell for a little more.
- Condition. Proof coins should be handled by the edges; fingerprints and scratches lower the value. See Storing physical precious metals.
Browse our Canadian history collection and commemorative and historical gold coins.
Continuing your research
Bullion vs. numismatic coins
Two distinct markets: investment-grade bullion priced by metal content, and numismatic coins valued for rarity and condition.
Coin grading explained
Professional grading services, the Sheldon Scale, and when grading actually adds value to a purchase.
Are Olympic gold medals real gold?
Olympic gold medals are mostly silver with a gold coating. What the rules require, how medals are made, and Canada's own Olympic coins from 1976 and 1988.
