You Might Have Rare Canadian Coins in Your Pocket and Not Even Know It

There are a lot of unique coins, including green toonies, blue dimes, purple loonies and black toonies, that the Royal Canadian Mint has released

The Royal Canadian Mint has been releasing some unique coins in recent years, including green toonies, blue dimes, purple loonies and black toonies.

So, you might have rare Canadian coins in your change and not even know it.

The Mint told Narcity earlier this year that these commemorative circulation coins are "more exclusive" and rarer than classic circulation coins.

Almost 23 million $1 coins and more than eight million $2 coins are minted in Canada every year.

But most commemorative circulation coins have a limited mintage of just three million.

"There is a tendency for the public to collect and keep those coins, which removes a significant percentage from circulation," the Mint said.

That's because of the unique designs, like pops of colour and special artwork.

So, if you find these Canadian coins in your change, you might want to hold onto them because they're pretty rare and could be worth money someday.

Supreme Court of Canada loonie (2025)

This $1 coin commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada.

It features an engraving of the exterior facade of the Supreme Court of Canada building in Ottawa, including the two bronze justices and truth statues that stand outside the court.

The court's 150th-anniversary logo is overlaid on the front steps of the Supreme Court of Canada building.

It's a dark blue circle with the inscription "150" and a white laurel leaf branch.

Two versions of this circulation coin were minted: the blue and white version and the entirely gold coloured version, which looks like a regular loonie.

Jean Paul Riopelle toonie (2023)

This $2 coin honouring artist Jean-Paul Riopelle is literally art because the inner core of the toonie features part of Riopelle's artwork from 1992: L'Hommage à Rosa Luxemburg.

It also features the original orange, blue, brown and white colours of Riopelle's piece.

Three million of these coins were minted, including two million with orange, blue, brown and white hues.

L. M. Montgomery loonie (2024)

This $1 coin honours L. M. Montgomery, one of Canada's most well-known writers and the author of Anne of Green Gables.

It features a portrait of Montgomery along with her signature and the drawing of a cat she often included with his signature.

There is also a portrait of Anne Shirley gazing out at P.E.I. farmland.

The landscape behind Montgomery and her most famous character is coloured blue for the sky and green and orange for the farmland.

Three million of these $1 coins were minted, including two million that feature the colourful background.

Inuit Nunangat toonie (2024)

This $2 circulation coin celebrating Inuit Nunangat from 2024 features artwork from four artists.

The light blue inner core of the toonie features an image of Nuliajuk — the spirit of the sea — wearing an atigi (parka) along with a walrus, two beluga whales, a seal, and an arctic char.

There are four artistic interpretations of uluit (knives) on the right side of the outer ring and the "Inuit Nunangat" on the left.

Three million Inuit Nunangat coins were minted, including two million with a light blue inner core.

Oscar Peterson loonie (2022)

This $1 coin celebrates Oscar Peterson, a world-renowned pianist and composer who was born in Montreal.

The loonie features Peterson playing a piano while musical notes from the closing bars of his song "Hymn to Freedom" float out of the instrument.

Behind Peterson, the coin has a splash of purple, which was his favourite colour.

There was a limited mintage of three million coins, two million of which feature the purple accent.

Bill Reid toonie (2020)

This $2 coin honouring Bill Reid (Iljuwas) celebrates his legacy by featuring his artwork.

On the inner core of the toonie is Xuu.ajii, the Haida Grizzly Bear, which is one of Reid's most iconic pieces of art.

The famous Haida art is in red, white and black — the colours of Haida artistic tradition.

Three million of these coins were minted, and two million of them feature the Haida Grizzly Bear in red, white and black.

National Indigenous Peoples Day toonie (2023)

This $2 coin for National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2023 honours the "rich and diverse cultural heritages" of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

It features three unique designs representing First Nations, Inuit and Mé