1948 Canadian Silver Dollar (King George VI Voyageur) Value Guide
What is a 1948 Canadian silver dollar worth? Canada's ultimate key date — only 18,780 struck. Complete CAD price guide by grade and finish (Business Strike & Specimen), trophy auction records, and a full counterfeit authentication guide.
The 1948 Canadian silver dollar — Canada's most important key-date circulation coin — is worth $450–$1,970 CAD in circulated grades and $2,430–$16,200 CAD in uncirculated grades. Trophy-grade examples (MS66) have sold for over $43,000 CAD.
- Circulated (G4–AU50):$450–$1,970 CAD — even the most worn example is worth hundreds
- Uncirculated Business Strike (MS60–MS63):$2,430–$4,040 CAD
- Gem Uncirculated (MS65):$16,200 CAD
- Trophy Grade (MS66):$43,000 CAD+ (ICCS MS66, Moore Coins Feb 2015)
- Specimen Strike (SP63 / SP65 / SP67):$4,900 / $9,300 / $21,500 CAD
All values in Canadian Dollars (CAD) as of February 2026. This coin contains 0.6000 troy oz of silver (80% alloy), giving it a melt value of approximately $71.30 CAD — less than 5% of its numismatic worth at any grade. Do not sell for melt. If your coin has matte, heavily lined fields and sharply squared rims rather than cartwheel lustre, it is almost certainly a rarer Specimen strike — see the Identification Guide for finish differences. Because the 1948 dollar is one of the most counterfeited coins in Canadian numismatics, professional authentication by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC is strongly recommended before any purchase or sale. See the full value chart →
The 1948 Canadian silver dollar holds an unrivalled position within twentieth-century Commonwealth numismatics. Widely acknowledged as the undisputed key date of the circulating silver dollar series, it owes its extraordinary rarity to a precise intersection of geopolitics and logistics: India's independence on August 15, 1947 rendered the IND:IMP inscription on all George VI coinage obsolete, triggering an urgent redesign of obverse dies across the entire British Commonwealth. The Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa depended entirely on London for master tooling and, by the time the corrected dies bearing the abbreviated legend Georgius VI Dei Gratia Rex finally arrived, only weeks remained in the 1948 production calendar. The presses produced a total of just 18,780 business strike dollars before retooling for 1949 — a microscopic fraction of the million-plus mintages that would become routine in the decades to follow. For full denomination pricing across all George VI and subsequent years, see our Canadian Dollar Value Guide.
Note: Errors such as off-metal strikes and other production anomalies exist for 1948 Canadian coinage but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
The 1948 Canadian silver dollar: obverse featuring Thomas Humphrey Paget's bare-headed portrait of King George VI with the corrected Georgius VI Dei Gratia Rex legend (no IND:IMP), and Emanuel Otto Hahn's iconic Voyageur reverse depicting a fur-laden birchbark canoe beneath the Aurora Borealis.
1948 Canadian Silver Dollar Composition & Melt Value
The 1948 dollar was struck on the 80% silver, 20% copper standard that had governed Canadian coinage since 1920, when Parliament debased the national silver coinage from the British Sterling standard of .925 fine to protect the treasury against commodity price volatility. The 20% copper component did more than reduce costs: it substantially hardened the large 36.06-millimetre planchet, making the high-relief elements of Emanuel Hahn's Voyageur reverse — the canoe's structural ribs, the intricate detail on the Indigenous guide's feather, and the delicate horizontal water lines at the bow — far more resistant to abrasion in commerce than a near-pure silver coin of equivalent size would have been.
Melt Value Calculation
The melt formula for any 1948 Canadian silver dollar is straightforward:
(23.33 g × 0.80 × Silver Spot Price in CAD/g) = Melt Value
Based on the silver spot price of approximately $3.82 CAD per gram as of late February 2026, the calculated melt value is approximately $71.30 CAD. The coin's Actual Silver Weight (ASW) is 0.6000 troy ounces.
⚠️ Do Not Sell This Coin for Melt
At approximately $71.30 CAD, the melt value represents less than five percent of the coin's numismatic worth even in its most heavily worn, low-grade circulated state (G4: $450 CAD). Even during the silver market surge of the late 1970s and early 1980s — when millions of common-date Canadian silver dollars were melted indiscriminately — the 1948 dollar was universally spared because its rarity premium was too widely recognized to ignore. Treating this coin as a bullion asset is a fundamental valuation error.
Composition and Toning
The 80/20 silver-copper alloy ages distinctively. Unlike near-pure silver, which tends toward uniform grey-black tarnish, the copper component enables a broader toning spectrum. Original, archival-stored 1948 dollars frequently develop iridescent halos of indigo, russet, magenta, and amber patina — natural toning that is highly desirable to collectors and commands premiums at auction. Artificially induced toning, by contrast, produces garish, unnaturally bright hues and is considered a form of alteration that triggers a Details designation from grading services.
Magnetic Properties
The 1948 silver dollar is composed entirely of non-ferrous metals (silver and copper) and will not be attracted to a magnet. If a coin purported to be a 1948 dollar sticks to a magnet, it contains a ferrous steel core and is unequivocally counterfeit. However, passing the magnet test alone does not guarantee authenticity — sophisticated counterfeiters use non-magnetic lead-antimony alloys or even genuine silver for their forgeries. The magnet test must always be combined with weight verification (exactly 23.33 g) and professional examination.
1948 Canadian Silver Dollar Value Chart by Grade & Finish
The 1948 Canadian silver dollar has two documented finish categories: the standard Business Strike (circulation issue, MS scale) and the deliberately produced Specimen Strike (SP scale). Values are sourced from Coins and Canada (February 2026) and the NGC World Coin Price Guide (February 2026). All prices are in CAD.
Grade comparison across three key tiers of the 1948 Canadian silver dollar: a circulated VF20 example showing wear on the Voyageur's shoulder and canoe waterlines; an MS63 example retaining full cartwheel lustre with minor contact marks; and an MS65 Gem example with booming, virtually mark-free surfaces. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
1948 Canadian Silver Dollar — Business Strike (Circulation)
The initial indicators of wear on the obverse are the King's cheekbone, eyebrow ridge, and hair tuft above the ear. On the reverse, wear first appears on the Voyageur's shoulder, the guide's feather detail, and the canoe gunwale. The progressive degradation of the horizontal water lines at the canoe's bow is the primary diagnostic for differentiating VG, F, and VF grades.
| Type / Design | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | EF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS63 | MS65 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voyageur — George VI No IND:IMP | Mintage: 18,780 | $450 | $588 | $1,030 | $1,520 | $1,760 | $1,970 | $2,430 | $4,040 | $16,200 | MS66 trophy sales: $43,000 CAD (ICCS MS66, Moore Coins Feb 2015); approx. $30,600 CAD ($21,850 USD, PCGS MS66, Heritage Auctions Jan 2003). Values scale exponentially above MS63 due to extreme surface-preservation difficulty on large, heavy silver planchets. |
The leap from AU50 to MS60 reflects the absolute boundary of circulation contact. An AU50 piece ($1,970 CAD) retains the majority of its original mint frost in protected fields but shows distinct friction on the highest relief points. An MS60 ($2,430 CAD) is technically uncirculated, yet may carry heavy bag marks and rim dings from the chaotic mechanics of high-speed production and canvas-bag transport — these are fully expected and do not disqualify the grade, but do dramatically reduce eye appeal. The true financial inflection point is MS63 ($4,040 CAD), where surfaces must show strong, unbroken cartwheel lustre with only minor, non-distracting contact marks, and MS65 ($16,200 CAD), where the coin approaches statistical perfection: a booming, immaculate surface with a full, sharp strike bringing up every rib of the canoe and every strand of the King's hair, and virtually no visible contact marks even under magnification.
⚠️ Never Clean Your Coin
Cleaning the 1948 silver dollar with acidic dips, abrasive cloths, or any other method permanently destroys the coin's original cartwheel lustre and leaves hairlines visible under direct light. A cleaned coin receives a grading-service Details designation (e.g., "MS Details — Cleaned") and typically trades at a 40%–60% discount versus a problem-free example of the same grade. Even a Details-graded 1948 dollar retains significant value due to its absolute rarity, but the discount is severe and irreversible.
1948 Canadian Silver Dollar — Specimen Strike (SP)
Specimen strikes were produced in minute, unrecorded quantities using specially prepared, polished dies and burnished planchets struck at elevated press tonnage. They were distributed to dignitaries, archival institutions, and elite contemporary collectors — never subjected to commerce or bag transport. Their survival in pristine condition is consequently much higher than that of business strikes, which explains the notable price differential: a SP65 ($9,300 CAD) trades at a significant discount to a business strike MS65 ($16,200 CAD) even though the Specimen is the more deliberately crafted piece. Paradoxically, pristine business strikes are far rarer in absolute terms because so few survived unscathed.
| Finish | SP60 | SP63 | SP65 | SP67 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen (SP) | $2,500 | $4,900 | $9,300 | $21,500 | Struck in unrecorded quantities for dignitaries and archival institutions. Parallel pricing track to business strikes; commands a ~20% premium at equivalent mid-Mint State grades (SP63 $4,900 vs MS63 $4,040) but trails significantly at gem levels due to proportionally higher survival rates of carefully preserved Specimens. |
Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026. For the complete denomination price history, see our Canadian Dollar Value Guide.
Most Valuable 1948 Canadian Silver Dollar Varieties & Trophy Examples
The brevity of the 1948 production run — terminated at just 18,780 pieces before the dies approached fatigue — precluded the formation of the dramatic die varieties that populate the Charlton catalogues for surrounding, high-mintage years. There are no formally catalogued doubling anomalies (DDO/DDR), major re-engraved date varieties, or re-punched elements for the 1948 issue. The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins confirms this monolithic uniformity. Accordingly, the pursuit of rarity within the 1948 issue is defined entirely by two axes: absolute grade preservation and the distinction between the two intentional mint finishes.
The upper reaches of the 1948 Canadian silver dollar market: MS66-grade examples represent the finest known business strikes and have realized over $43,000 CAD at major Canadian numismatic auctions, driven by the near-impossibility of a 23.33-gram silver planchet surviving the minting and transport process without a single distracting contact mark. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
A. Trophy-Level Examples (Highest Documented Values)
| What | Why It Commands a Premium | Grade Required | Documented Sale Result | Source / Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Strike — MS66 | Surviving the minting hoppers and canvas bag transport for 78 years without a single distracting mark on a 23.33 g silver planchet is a near-physical impossibility. MS66 examples represent the finest known business strikes and command registry-set premiums from the most capitalised collectors in the domestic market. | ICCS MS66 / PCGS MS66 | $43,000 CAD (ICCS MS66, floor bidder) / approx. $30,600 CAD ($21,850 USD, PCGS MS66) | Moore Coins — The Canadian Legacy Sale II (Feb 2015) / Heritage Auctions (Jan 2003) |
| Specimen Strike — SP67 | The apex of Specimen production. Requires perfect matte-lined fields, sharply frosted devices, and flawless archival preservation over nearly eight decades with no chemical dipping or environmental damage. | PCGS SP67 / ICCS SP67 | $21,500 CAD (current top-tier market consensus valuation) | Coins and Canada (Feb 2026) |
B. The Key Findable Split: Business Strike vs. Specimen Strike
| Finish | How to Identify | Why Rarer at Top Grades | Value Impact at MS63 / SP63 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen (SP) | Deeply squared-off rims; flat fields exhibit a matte, vertically or horizontally lined texture contrasting sharply with heavily frosted, high-relief devices; lacks standard cartwheel lustre; individual handling marks (if any) are isolated, not chaotic | Struck in minute, unrecorded quantities; always individually handled and archived; proportionally better survivors make SP65 more accessible than MS65 | SP63: $4,900 CAD vs. MS63: $4,040 CAD (approx. 20% Specimen premium at equivalent mid-Mint State levels; reverses at gem grades) |
The $43,000 CAD realization at the 2015 Moore Coins Canadian Legacy Sale II represents a pivotal benchmark for the domestic market: it confirmed that ICCS-certified coins carry a substantial localized liquidity premium over international-slab equivalents, a premium rooted in the widespread trust placed in ICCS's hyper-conservative technical grading standards by Canadian buyers. The 2003 Heritage Auctions result ($21,850 USD / approx. $30,600 CAD for a PCGS MS66) remains an important comparative data point illustrating how the trophy market has accelerated over the subsequent two decades.
1948 Canadian Silver Dollar Identification Guide
The immense financial delta between a common-date George VI dollar (worth $35–$75 circulated) and a genuine 1948 (worth $450+ even heavily worn) makes the 1948 issue a primary target for sophisticated counterfeiters and date-alteration artists. Every raw, uncertified example should be approached with forensic skepticism. Use the following checklist to perform an initial field assessment.
30-Second Diagnostic Checklist
Step 1 — Monarch & Legend Verification (Obverse)
Inspect the obverse legend surrounding the bare-headed portrait of King George VI. It must read exactly: Georgius VI Dei Gratia Rex. The imperial title IND:IMP (Emperor of India) must be completely absent. Any coin bearing IND:IMP anywhere in its legend is mathematically impossible as a genuine 1948 issue; that title was permanently retired following India's independence in 1947. The obverse portrait was designed by English sculptor Thomas Humphrey Paget — his initials HP are discreetly positioned below the truncation of the King's neck.
Legend comparison: LEFT shows the pre-1948 legend with IND:IMP (used on 1937–1947 George VI dollars); RIGHT shows the corrected 1948 legend with only Georgius VI Dei Gratia Rex. The absence of IND:IMP is the single most important authenticator. If your coin says IND:IMP, it is not a 1948. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Step 2 — Date Verification & Counterfeit Diagnostics
Under 10x–20x magnification, intensely scrutinize the four digits of the date 1948. The critical target is the final digit. An authentic 8 will share the identical focal depth, metal flow patterns, cartwheel-lustre continuity, and typographic baseline as the preceding 194.
⚠️ Counterfeit Alert — Altered Dates and Die-Struck Fakes
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has issued formal warnings about two distinct categories of 1948 forgeries entering the market:
- Altered Dates (most common): Forgers take a genuine 1945 or 1946 George VI dollar — specifically chosen because those years carry the identical corrected Georgius VI Dei Gratia Rex legend — and use precision steel gravers to reshape the final digit into an 8. Under magnification, tooling lines, unnatural field depressions around the altered digit, and disrupted radial flow lines (the microscopic ridges generating cartwheel lustre) betray the forgery. The fabricated 8 frequently appears pinched, asymmetrical, or off-baseline compared to the mint's authentic typography.
- Die-Struck and Spark-Erosion Replicas: Overseas operations have produced entirely false coins struck from fabricated dies. RCMP counterfeit coordinators have identified repeating structural anomalies on the loops of the number 8 and a distinct typographic error on the second L in the word DOLLAR on the reverse. Cast or spark-erosion replicas also exhibit a soapy, lifeless surface texture with mushy device details and repeating bag-mark depressions identical across multiple specimens (a physical impossibility on genuine coins).
Date alteration diagnostic: LEFT shows the authentic typography of a genuine 1948 date — note the uniform metal flow lines surrounding all four digits, the symmetrical double loops of the 8, and the consistent typographic baseline. RIGHT shows a simulated altered-date forgery (1946 → 1948) with yellow arrows highlighting telltale tooling marks in the field around the final digit, an asymmetrical upper loop on the fabricated 8, and disrupted cartwheel lustre. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Step 3 — Weight Verification
An authentic 1948 Canadian silver dollar must weigh exactly 23.33 grams. Use a precision digital scale accurate to 0.01 g. A coin deviating materially from this weight — whether a debased counterfeit, a lead-fill replica, or a wrong-planchet strike — will fail this test. Weight verification is mandatory in conjunction with the magnet test; neither is sufficient alone.
Step 4 — Magnet Test (Composition Verification)
Apply a strong rare-earth magnet to the coin. An authentic 1948 silver dollar is 80% silver and 20% copper — neither metal is ferromagnetic. The coin will not be attracted to the magnet at all. If the coin sticks or is pulled toward the magnet, it contains a ferrous steel core and is unquestionably counterfeit.
ℹ️ Magnet Test Limitation
Passing the magnet test does not guarantee authenticity. Advanced counterfeiters use non-magnetic lead-antimony alloys or genuine silver to bypass this check. Non-magnetism must always be combined with precise weight measurement (23.33 g) and professional examination under magnification. For any transaction involving significant capital, third-party certification is non-negotiable.
Magnet test for the 1948 Canadian silver dollar: the 80% silver, 20% copper composition is entirely non-ferromagnetic — a genuine coin will show zero attraction to a rare-earth magnet. A coin that sticks or is pulled toward the magnet contains a ferrous core and is counterfeit. Note that passing the magnet test does not guarantee authenticity. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Step 5 — Finish Identification (Business Strike vs. Specimen)
Determining the intended finish is critical for accurate valuation:
- Business Strike: Standard radial cartwheel lustre generated by the outward flow of metal during a normal coining strike. Fields and high-relief devices share a uniform visual texture. Bag marks, rim dings, and striking friction are expected and consistent with the coin's production history.
- Specimen Strike (SP): Superior, high-pressure strike resulting in exceptionally sharp device details and heavily squared-off rims. Most distinctively, the flat fields exhibit a matte, vertically or horizontally lined appearance that provides a stark, high-contrast effect against the frosted raised devices. Specimen coins were handled individually and should not show the deep, chaotic contact marks characteristic of bag-transported business strikes. The overall visual impression is one of deliberate, controlled precision rather than industrial mass-production.
Finish comparison for the 1948 Canadian silver dollar: LEFT — Business Strike showing standard radial cartwheel lustre with the characteristic light-reflecting flow lines across both fields and devices, typical contact marks visible. RIGHT — Specimen Strike showing the distinctive matte, lined field texture, deeply squared rim, and strong cameo contrast between the frosted Voyageur devices and the flat fields. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Step 6 — Authentication Recommendation
⚠️ Professional Authentication Is Essential
Given the volume of altered 1945 and 1946 dollars in circulation masquerading as 1948s, combined with the influx of highly deceptive spark-erosion counterfeits, no raw 1948 silver dollar should be purchased or sold without binding third-party authentication. The International Coin Certification Service (ICCS), headquartered in Toronto, is the primary domestic standard and commands a localized liquidity premium in the Canadian market due to its hyper-conservative grading approach. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) are internationally recognized alternatives. All three services will encapsulate the coin in a tamper-evident holder — this is the only reliable protection against forgeries.
1948 Canadian Silver Dollar Value FAQs
What is a 1948 Canadian silver dollar worth?
In circulated grades (G4 through AU50), a genuine 1948 Canadian silver dollar is worth between $450 and $1,970 CAD. In uncirculated grades, values range from $2,430 CAD (MS60) to $16,200 CAD (MS65), with trophy-grade examples (MS66) having sold for over $43,000 CAD. Specimen strikes command $2,500–$21,500 CAD depending on grade. All values as of February 2026; source: Coins and Canada.
Is the 1948 Canadian silver dollar rare?
Yes — it is the key date of the entire circulating Canadian silver dollar series and arguably the most important twentieth-century Commonwealth circulation coin. Only 18,780 business strikes were produced, compared to typical million-plus mintages of subsequent years. While proportionally more examples were saved by collectors who recognized its rarity almost immediately, the absolute number of surviving specimens — especially in high grades — remains desperately low, sustaining intense competition among advanced collectors and registry set builders.
How do I know if my 1948 Canadian silver dollar is genuine?
The single most important check is the obverse legend: it must read exactly Georgius VI Dei Gratia Rex with no trace of IND:IMP. Next, under 10x–20x magnification, examine the final digit of the date — an altered 1945 or 1946 coin will show tooling marks, field disruptions, and an asymmetrical or misaligned 8. Apply a magnet (the coin must be fully non-magnetic) and weigh it (must be exactly 23.33 g). RCMP-documented cast and spark-erosion counterfeits also exhibit a soapy surface texture, mushy device details, and a specific typographic error on the second L in DOLLAR. For any transaction of significance, professional authentication by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC is non-negotiable.
Is the 1948 Canadian silver dollar actually silver?
Yes. The 1948 dollar is struck on an 80% silver, 20% copper planchet weighing 23.33 grams, giving it an Actual Silver Weight (ASW) of 0.6000 troy ounces. At the silver spot price of approximately $3.82 CAD per gram as of February 2026, the melt value is roughly $71.30 CAD. However, because even the most worn circulated examples command $450 CAD or more on their numismatic rarity alone, this coin should never be treated as a bullion asset.
What is the difference between a Business Strike and a Specimen strike?
Business strikes were produced for commercial circulation using standard production methods and are graded on the MS scale. Specimen strikes were intentionally crafted for presentation purposes using polished dies and burnished planchets at higher press pressure, resulting in sharply squared rims, exceptionally crisp device detail, and most distinctively, matte, lined fields that contrast dramatically with frosted raised devices. Specimens were individually handled and archived, never subjected to bag transport. While Specimens are rarer in absolute mintage, pristine business strikes (MS65+) are harder to find because almost none survived the chaotic production and distribution process unscathed — which is why MS65 business strikes trade above SP65 Specimens despite the latter's more careful manufacture.
Should I get my 1948 Canadian silver dollar professionally graded?
Yes — for virtually every example. Even a heavily circulated G4 coin worth around $450 CAD benefits from certification because the 1948 issue is so heavily counterfeited that an uncertified coin faces significant market skepticism. For any coin approaching or exceeding MS63, grading is economically essential: the value cliff between AU50 ($1,970 CAD) and MS63 ($4,040 CAD) and between MS63 and MS65 ($16,200 CAD) is steep enough that the cost of submission to ICCS, PCGS, or NGC is trivially small relative to the premium a genuine, certified grade unlocks.
Why does ICCS grading matter more than PCGS or NGC for this coin in Canada?
The International Coin Certification Service (ICCS), based in Toronto, is the domestic Canadian grading standard. ICCS is renowned for its hyper-conservative, strictly technical approach — particularly its stringent penalization of bag marks and minute high-point wear on heavy silver planchets. Within the Canadian market, a coin in an ICCS holder frequently commands a localized liquidity premium over a coin in a PCGS or NGC holder at the same stated grade, because local buyers place greater trust in ICCS's consistency. The $43,000 CAD realization for an ICCS MS66 at the 2015 Moore Coins Legacy Sale II versus the $21,850 USD (~$30,600 CAD) for a PCGS MS66 at the 2003 Heritage auction illustrates this premium and the market's continued appreciation over time.
What does a 'Details' grade mean for a 1948 dollar, and how much is it worth?
A Details grade (e.g., AU Details — Cleaned or MS Details — Altered Color) is assigned by grading services when a coin has been cleaned, artificially toned, repaired, or otherwise altered. The grading service confirms the coin's genuine identity and underlying grade level but flags the problem. A Details-graded 1948 dollar retains significant value purely because of its extreme rarity as a key date — it is still a genuine 1948 and will always be in demand. However, it typically trades at a 40%–60% discount compared to a problem-free example of equivalent underlying grade. Never clean this coin; the damage is irreversible and the financial penalty is severe and permanent.
Could the 1948 Canadian silver dollar ever lose its status as the key date of the series?
No. The 1948 dollar's rarity is a fixed mathematical reality — 18,780 business strikes were produced and no additional coins can be created. Its status as the key date, recognized by numismatists almost immediately after mintage ended and enshrined in every edition of the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, is permanent. The coin's demand is further insulated by its place in the narrative of Canadian monetary history: the direct physical consequence of India's independence and the end of the British Empire's formal reach into the Canadian monetary system.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide reflect typical retail market prices as of February 2026. Primary pricing data was sourced from Coins and Canada — 1 Dollar 1937–1952, with cross-reference from the NGC World Coin Price Guide (KM# 46). Historical mintage, geopolitical context, and milestone auction data were drawn from PCGS CoinFacts. The $43,000 CAD trophy auction record is documented at Moore Coins — The Canadian Legacy Sale II (February 2015). Melt value was calculated using silver spot data from Silverprice.org — Silver Price Canada (February 23, 2026). Counterfeit and alteration diagnostics are based on RCMP public counterfeit warnings and related numismatic public records. Series context references the Canadian Silver Dollar Wikipedia article and CoinWeek's guide to Canadian silver dollars. Adjectival grade descriptions in source material were mapped to Sheldon-scale equivalents per standard Canadian ICCS/Charlton terminology. Values represent market estimates only and are not offers to buy or sell.
A note on images: To help illustrate coin diagnostics and rare varieties — especially complex errors that are difficult to describe in text alone — this guide uses AI-generated images. All written values, diagnostics, and variety attributions have been manually reviewed against the cited sources above. While our editorial team works to ensure every image is accurate and helpful, AI-generated illustrations may occasionally misrepresent fine details. If you spot any discrepancy between an image and its written description, please contact us or leave a comment below — we review all feedback and correct errors promptly. Numismatic knowledge is a community effort, and your input helps us build a more accurate resource for everyone.