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John A. Macdonald on Coins and Banknotes

By thecanadiannumismatist | Sunday, 2 March 2025

As Canada approached the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Royal Canadian Mint is launched a 2 dollars circulation coin celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The coin was unveiled at Sir John A. Macdonald community birthday celebrations in Kingston.

The coin's reverse image was designed by Canadian artist Glen Green and is inspired by archival photographs of Sir John A. Macdonald.

The Mint is proud to share great Canadian stories, including the remarkable Sir John A. Macdonald on our coins.
As Canada counts down to the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Mint will continue to honour people and events which have shaped our nation and we will soon ask Canadians to actively participate in our program.

- Marc Brûlé, Interim President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint

John Alexander Macdonald, born January 10 or 11, 1815 in Glasgow, Scotland and died June 6, 1891 in Ottawa, Canada, was an English-Canadian lawyer, jurist and statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of Canada (1867–1873, 1878–1891) and one of the principal Fathers of Confederation. A dominant figure in Canadian politics, his career spanned nearly half a century. He served as Prime Minister for 19 years, surpassed only by William Lyon Mackenzie King.

Macdonald has also been immortalized on Canadian stamps and several bank notes over the years.

500 dollars 1935

This was the only $500 note ever issued by the Bank. Printed by CBN, it features a portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, wearing a fur-collared coat. Will Ford of ABN engraved the portrait. On the back of the note is an allegorical figure representing fertility.

10 dollars 1969-1979

A portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald engraved by George Gunderson appears on the front of the $10 note. The note was printed by CBN and issued in November 1971.

10 dollars 1986-1991

Printed by BABN and issued in June 1989, the $10 note features a portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald engraved by Thomas Hipschen of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

10 dollars 2001-2011

The face of the $10 note features a portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald engraved by Jorge Peral and a vignette of the Library of Parliament. Issued in January 2001, this note was the first in the series. An enhanced $10 note that includes the same security features as the high-denomination notes in the series was issued in May 2005.

Macdonald was also featured on the first series of polymer notes and the 2017 commemorative note, but was replaced by Viola Desmond, an icon of the Canadian rights and freedoms movement, in 2018.

He came under criticism for his role in the Chinese head tax and federal policies toward Indigenous peoples, including his actions during the North-West Rebellion that resulted in Riel's execution, and the development of the residential school system designed to assimilate Indigenous children.

Today we are celebrating the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, an architect of Canada's Confederation and one of our country's most important political figures.
His profoundly influential story as a historic nation-builder and fierce defender of our values and borders now has a permanent place on a circulation coin which will touch Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

- Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint

The reverse of the 2015 $2 coin also shows a modern map of Canada in the background.

In addition to this coin, other numismatic coins were produced the same year:

A $10 silver coin with selective gold plating featuring an original portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald by Canadian artist Joel Kimmel ($69.95)
A $20 silver coin featuring a striking portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald by Canadian artist William Lazos, against the backdrop of the original Parliament Buildings ($89.95)
A $100 14-karat gold coin featuring an original portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald by Glen Green along with one of Macdonald's achievements, the completion of the Canadian Pacific railway ($599.95)