Coins and Canada - 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag

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50th anniversary of the Canadian flag

By thecanadiannumismatist | Saturday, 17 May 2025

To replace the Union Flag, the Flag of Canada was adopted in 1965 by the Liberal government of Lester B. Pearson. Elizabeth II proclaimed the new flag on January 28, 1965. The design by George Stanley and John Matheson, based on the flag of the Royal Military College, was selected and the graphic design was done by Jacques Saint-Cyr.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag and near Canada Day celebrations, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a 25-cent circulation coin commemorating. The coin was unveiled at centre field in Toronto's Varsity Stadium, before the kick-off to a CFL exhibition game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Mint is delighted to join in the celebration of the national flag's 50th anniversary by issuing a commemorative 25-cent circulation coin which will reach Canadians living in every province and territory.
The 50th birthday of our red and white maple leaf flag, which has blossomed into a universal symbol of Canadian pride, is a great theme for a new circulation coin and an important step in the countdown towards the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

- Sandra Hanington, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint

Designed by Nova Scotia artist Bonnie Ross, the reverse of this 25-cent circulation coin features an illustration of the national flag surrounded by fifty children, each of whom represent one of the flag's 50 years. The words "50 years/ans also appear at the bottom center of the design.

Out of a total of mintage of 12.5 million coins, 6.25 million are coloured, and an equal number are non-coloured. They began circulating nationally on June 9, 2015.

25 cents 2015 prices and values

Earlier that year, a $3 fine silver collector coin featuring red and white accents was unveiled at a special Flag Day ceremony held at Confederation Park in Ottawa.

The Mint is delighted to join Canadians in expressing our affection for the best country in the world and for the iconic flag which represents it, with a beautifully designed coloured silver collector coin.

- Michel Boucher, Vice-President of Human Resources and Quality Systems at the Royal Canadian Mint

The collector coin, which bears a face value of $3, features a design of the map of Canada, filled in its entirety with the red and white motif of the Canadian flag. It was offered for $29.95 with a limited mintage of 15,000.

3 dollars 2015 prices and values

The 2015 proof set also included a silver dollar coin featuring the Canadian flag. It was avalaible in both versions: coloured and non-coloured. In the non-coloured proof set, a coloured proof 25 cents was included.

The non-coloured one was also offered in brilliant uncirculated finish.

1 dollar 2015 prices and values

Also, for the first time ever, the popular $20 for $20 coin series has been updated with a coloured $25 for $25 coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag.

This is a 99.99% silver coin weighing 7.96 grams. The reverse is the Canadian flag billowing in the wind from the bough of a sugar maple tree.

A 50-cent 9.99% gold coin designed by Canadian artist Pierre Leduc, featuring a sugar maple leaf and the national flag seen in the background was also produced in 2015 and a 1.5 oz. fine silver coloured rectangular coin with a denomination of 50 dollars.