1979 Canadian $1 (Dollar) Value Guide — Voyageur Nickel & Griffon Silver
What is your 1979 Canadian dollar worth? Complete price guide for the Voyageur nickel dollar and Griffon silver commemorative across all grades and finishes (Business Strike, PL, Specimen). Circulated Voyageur = face value; Griffon starts at ~$45 CAD silver melt. All values in CAD, February 2026.
The 1979 Canadian dollar was struck in two entirely distinct types: the Voyageur nickel dollar (circulation) and the Griffon silver commemorative (NCLT collector issue). Their values follow completely separate economic tracks. All values below are in Canadian Dollars (CAD) as of February 2026.
- Found a large nickel-coloured dollar in change or a box? That is almost certainly the Voyageur. Circulated examples (G4–AU50) are worth face value — $1.00. Uncirculated (MS60) reaches $2.00; a certified Gem (MS65) jumps to $15.00; trophy-grade MS67 examples have realized $288–$564 at auction.
- Coin is shiny or mirror-like? It likely came from a Royal Canadian Mint pliofilm year set (Proof-Like finish). PL Voyageur dollars certified by PCGS/NGC as PF range from $3.50 (PF63) to $10.00 (PF67). A "shiny" 1979 dollar found loose is almost certainly PL, not a rare high-grade Business Strike.
- Is it silver? Only the Griffon commemorative contains silver (50% silver / 50% copper). The Voyageur is 100% nickel with no precious metal content. The definitive test: the Voyageur snaps firmly to a magnet; the Griffon does not move at all. The Griffon is also visibly larger (36 mm vs. 32.13 mm) and heavier (23.33 g vs. 15.62 g). A Griffon dollar carries a minimum melt floor of approximately $45.25 CAD regardless of condition; Specimen-65 examples trade at about $55 and trophy-grade SP69/PF69 examples reach approximately $95.
All values in CAD. Value depends on design (Voyageur vs. Griffon), grade, and finish (Business Strike vs. Proof-Like vs. Specimen). The Griffon's value floor moves daily with the silver spot price. See full value chart →
The 1979 Canadian one-dollar coin occupies a fascinating crossroads in Canadian numismatics. The year is notable for the Royal Canadian Mint's deliberate portrait standardization — scaling the Arnold Machin Queen Elizabeth II effigy to be proportional to each denomination's diameter — and for the simultaneous production of two structurally distinct dollar coins: the standard Voyageur nickel dollar struck for general commerce and collector sets, and the Griffon silver commemorative, an NCLT (Non-Circulating Legal Tender) issue marking the 300th anniversary of the 1679 sailing of the Griffon, the first European commercial vessel to navigate the upper Great Lakes. For complete historical context across all Canadian dollar issues from the 1935 silver dollar through the pre-Loonie nickel era, see our Canadian Dollar Value Guide.
Note: Errors such as off-center strikes and wrong-planchet coins exist for 1979 Canadian coinage but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
1979 Canadian Dollar Composition & Melt Value
The two 1979 Canadian dollar coins are metallurgically incompatible — they share a denomination and a monarch portrait, but nothing else about their physical makeup. Understanding their compositions is the single most important step in assessing value.
The Voyageur Dollar: 100% Nickel
Following the removal of silver from Canadian circulating coinage after 1967, the Voyageur dollar transitioned to a pure nickel composition beginning in 1968. The 1979 issue continues this standard. Pure nickel is an exceptionally hard, dense, ferromagnetic metal. This hardness makes these coins highly durable against wear, but it also means that high striking pressure is needed to fill every recess in the die — often resulting in slightly weaker definition on the highest relief points, such as the Voyageur paddler's head or the canoe's waterlines. The hardness also ensures that when heavy 15.62-gram planchets crash into each other in bulk-handling hoppers, they inflict deep, permanent contact marks — the primary reason pristine high-grade examples are so statistically rare.
Intrinsic melt value: The Voyageur contains no precious metal. At current base-metal industrial prices, the nickel content is worth only a few cents, permanently anchoring any circulated example to its $1.00 legal tender face value.
The Griffon Dollar: 50% Silver / 50% Copper
The Griffon was deliberately produced to the legacy dimensions of pre-1968 Canadian silver dollars, giving it a substantially heavier, classical feel. Its 50/50 silver-copper alloy is significantly softer than pure nickel, which allowed the specially prepared specimen dies to impart deeply frosted cameo devices and exceptional surface detail on the ship's rigging and the Queen's tiara jewels. However, this same softness — and the high copper concentration — makes the Griffon highly susceptible to tarnish and oxidation, especially when exposed to the sulfur compounds in the original red-flocked clamshell cases.
Melt value calculation (February 2026): The Griffon's Actual Silver Weight (ASW) of 0.375 troy oz is isolated as follows:
ASW (11.6638 g) × Silver spot price (~$3.88 CAD/g) = ~$45.25 CAD
This melt value is the hard economic floor for every Griffon dollar regardless of grade or condition. The silver spot price fluctuates daily; track the live CAD silver price at GoldBroker — Silver Price in CAD to recalculate the current floor.
ℹ️ Magnet Test: The Fastest Identification Tool
The magnet test distinguishes these coins instantly. A standard household magnet placed against the Voyageur (100% nickel) will snap to it firmly. The same magnet placed against the Griffon (50% silver, 50% copper) will have zero effect — silver and copper are both diamagnetic. This test takes two seconds and is definitive.
1979 Canadian Dollar Value Chart by Grade & Finish
The 1979 Canadian dollar has two entirely distinct value tracks — the base-metal Voyageur and the silver Griffon — each further divided by finish. Use the navigation below to jump to the relevant table. All values in CAD as of February 2026.
1979 Canadian Voyageur Dollar — Business Strike (Circulation)
Business strike Voyageur dollars were struck at high speed, ejected into steel hoppers, and distributed as everyday currency. The result: the vast majority grade between MS60 and MS63, and virtually none survive in true Gem condition. Circulated examples across all grades carry no numismatic premium — face value only. The value cliff between MS64 ($4.00) and MS65 ($15.00) is steep; at MS65, the Queen's cheekbones and every waterline beneath the canoe must be free of any visible contact marks.
| Design | Mintage | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | EF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS63 | MS65 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voyageur (Nickel) | 1,884,789 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $4.00 | $15.00 | G4–AU50 = face value only. MS66/MS67 trophy: $288–$564+ (PCGS auction archives). Sources: Calgary Coin Gallery; Numista Voyageur; NGC Price Guide KM-120.1 |
1979 Canadian Voyageur Dollar — Proof-Like (PL)
Proof-Like Voyageur dollars were struck for the standard pliofilm year sets (mintage approximately 187,624). These coins have highly reflective mirror fields and some frosting on the devices. Third-party grading services PCGS and NGC routinely classify these coins as Proof (PF) rather than PL, because the RCM's official designation of "Proof-Like" predates modern slab-era terminology. The values below reflect the PCGS/NGC PF-grade designations under which these coins are most commonly traded in the certified market.
⚠️ PVC Damage Risk
Proof-Like coins stored in original 1979 pliofilm (cellophane) packaging may develop green PVC residue or a grey haze over decades of storage. If you see greenish slime on the surface, the coin requires professional conservation with pure acetone — do not use nail polish remover. Hazing caused by packaging degradation permanently downgrades the coin's numeric grade and may reduce it to face/melt value.
| Finish | Mintage | PF63 | PF65 | PF67 | Cameo Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proof-Like (PL) — certified PF by PCGS/NGC | ~187,624 | $3.50 | $4.00 | $10.00 | Heavy Cameo frosting on the canoe and Queen's portrait commands a modest localized premium above standard PF examples. |
1979 Canadian Voyageur Dollar — Specimen (SP)
Specimen Voyageur dollars were included in the 1979 Double Dollar sets alongside the Griffon silver commemorative (set mintage: 155,698). The SP Voyageur features matte or finely striated fields with heavily frosted devices — a starkly different appearance from the mirror-fielded PL. These coins are only obtainable by breaking open the Double Dollar set, making pristine examples genuinely scarcer in the certified market than their PL counterparts.
| Finish | Source | SP63 | SP65 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen (SP) | Double Dollar Set (155,698 sets) | $4.00 | $5.00 | Superior strike definition and matte fields. Requires set destruction to obtain loose. Source: Calgary Coin Gallery |
1979 Canadian Griffon Silver Dollar — All Grades
The Griffon was never struck for circulation. All examples are Specimen quality as produced by the RCM, with a standard issue price anchored to a presentation clamshell case. The table below maps the full value spectrum, from damaged or heavily toned examples trading near the silver melt floor, through clean Specimen grades, through the premium PCGS/NGC Proof designations applied to the same type of coin, to trophy-level certified examples.
Silver melt floor (February 2026): approximately $45.25 CAD. Any Griffon dollar, regardless of condition, is worth at minimum its ASW of 0.375 troy oz multiplied by the current CAD spot price. Track live silver at GoldBroker — Silver Price in CAD.
| Designation | Grade | Value (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near-melt / clouded SP | ~MS60 equivalent | $48.00 | Mishandled, heavily toned, or packaging-hazed examples; no numismatic premium above bullion floor. |
| Near-melt / clouded SP | ~MS63 equivalent | $52.00 | Minor haze or toning; modest premium over melt only. |
| Near-melt / clouded SP | ~MS65 equivalent | $60.00 | Attractive surfaces but still below standard clean SP pricing. |
| Specimen (SP — RCM official) | SP63 | $50.00 | Clean specimen surfaces; modest premium over melt. Heavy cameo frosting is standard for this issue. |
| Specimen (SP — RCM official) | SP65 | $55.00 | Standard expected grade straight from a well-preserved mint box. Sources: G. Manz Coins; CDN Coin |
| Proof (PF — PCGS/NGC certification) | PF63 | $52.00 | PCGS/NGC certify deeply mirrored RCM specimens as "Proof." RCM's own historical designation before 1981 was Specimen; both terms refer to the same coin type. Source: NGC Price Guide KM-124 |
| Proof (PF — PCGS/NGC certification) | PF65 | $60.00 | |
| Proof (PF — PCGS/NGC certification) | PF67 | $75.00 | |
| Trophy — Deep Cameo | SP69 / PF69 Ultra Cameo | ~$95.00 | Near-flawless surfaces with maximum cameo contrast. Statistically rare due to clamshell case degradation over 45 years. |
Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026. For the complete Canadian dollar denomination price history, see our Canadian Dollar Value Guide.
Most Valuable 1979 Canadian Dollar Varieties
The 1979 Canadian dollar denomination does not carry the major die varieties (doubled dies, repunched dates, or bead varieties) cataloged for other 1979 denominations. Value is driven almost entirely by extreme condition rarity, finish type, and — for the Griffon — cameo contrast quality and preservation of silver surfaces. The variants below are structural differences arising from the mint's packaging strategy and the statistical rarity of survival in top condition.
A. Trophy-Level Examples (Not Typical)
These are the absolute apex of the 1979 dollar market, requiring third-party certification and mathematical near-perfection.
| What | Why It Commands a Premium | Grade Required | Documented Value Range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voyageur Nickel Dollar — MS67 | Extreme condition rarity. Pure nickel planchets (15.62 g each) are ejected directly into steel hoppers during production, instantly inflicting contact marks. Achieving MS67 requires a coin that completely bypassed this industrial violence for nearly half a century. The statistical population of MS67 Voyageur dollars is vanishingly small. | PCGS MS67 or equivalent | $288–$564 CAD | PCGS auction archives (historical realizations) |
| Griffon Silver Dollar — SP69 / PF69 Ultra Cameo | Near-flawless surfaces with maximum black-and-white cameo contrast. Many 1979 Griffon clamshell cases degraded over decades, causing the red flocking to out-gas sulfur and tone or haze the silver. A pristine SP69/PF69 with brilliant mirrors and blazing frosted devices is an aesthetic rarity, not just a grade rarity. | NGC SP69 or PCGS PF69 Ultra Cameo | ~$95 CAD | NGC Registry / retail market (2024–2025) |
| Griffon Silver Dollar — SP67 Vividly Toned | Exceptional, symmetrical rainbow toning produced by controlled long-term reaction with original RCM packaging can command massive premiums from specialized aesthetic collectors. Not all toning is equal — heavy black or brown tarnish destroys value; vivid, symmetrical rainbow toning adds it. | PCGS SP67 (Toned) | 2× to 3× base value depending on color vibrancy | GreatCollections archive |
B. Findable Split Points (Finish & Packaging Identification)
There are no major Charlton-cataloged die varieties specific to the 1979 one-dollar denomination. The meaningful "variants" are the distinct manufacturing finishes, each tied to a specific packaging origin and Charlton catalog number. Identifying which version you hold determines which price column applies.
| Variant / Finish | Charlton # | How to Identify | Packaging Origin | Typical Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voyageur — Business Strike | RC-128 | Satiny cartwheel lustre; fields and devices share uniform, unpolished texture; bag marks usually visible. | General commerce / RCM bags | Face value (circ.) to $15.00 (MS65) |
| Voyageur — Proof-Like (PL) | RC-128 (PL) | Highly reflective mirror fields; faint device frost; your reflection visible in field. | Flat pliofilm year set (red envelope) | $3.50–$10.00 (PF63–PF67) |
| Voyageur — Specimen (SP) | RC-128 (SP) | Finely lined or matte fields; heavily frosted Queen portrait and canoe; stark cameo effect. | Double Dollar leatherette set (requires set destruction) | $4.00–$5.00 (SP63–SP65) |
| Griffon — Specimen (Silver) | RC-808 | Sailing ship reverse with dual dates 1679–1979; 36.00 mm diameter; 23.33 g; non-magnetic. | Black clamshell case (individual) or Double Dollar leatherette set | $45.25 melt floor to $75.00+ (PF67) |
⚠️ Never Clean Your Coins
Wiping, dipping, or polishing a Proof-Like or Specimen surface instantly imparts microscopic hairlines into the mirrored fields, stripping the natural flow lines. A cleaned SP65 Griffon dollar immediately drops from a numismatic collectible to its raw silver melt weight (~$45 CAD), because third-party graders will designate it as "Altered Surfaces" and refuse a numeric grade.
1979 Canadian Dollar Identification Guide
Use this 30-second checklist to determine exactly what you have and which value table applies.
Step 1 — Confirm the Monarch (Obverse)
The obverse of both 1979 dollar coins features the tiara portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Arnold Machin, used on Canadian coins from 1965 through 1989 (the Second Portrait). You will see "ELIZABETH II" above the bust and "D·G·REGINA" below the truncation. The 1979 portrait was deliberately scaled down by the RCM to be proportional to each denomination's diameter — this standardization is the intended design and should not be confused with error varieties found in other years and denominations.
Step 2 — Identify the Reverse Design
- Voyageur reverse: An Indigenous man and a French-Canadian voyageur paddle a birch-bark canoe past an island with two wind-swept trees; vertical lines in the background depict the Northern Lights. Text reads "CANADA" and the face value. → You have the Voyageur nickel dollar.
- Griffon reverse: A detailed 17th-century European sailing ship under full sail traverses open water, accompanied by the dual commemorative dates "1679 · 1979" and "CANADA." → You have the Griffon silver commemorative.
Step 3 — The Magnet Test (Composition Verification)
Apply a standard magnet to the coin:
- Coin snaps firmly to magnet: 100% nickel composition confirmed → Voyageur dollar. No precious metal content; circulated value = $1.00 face.
- Coin does not react to magnet: 50% silver / 50% copper composition confirmed → Griffon silver dollar. Minimum value is the current silver melt floor (~$45.25 CAD as of February 2026).
This test is definitive. If you encounter a Voyageur design that fails the magnet test, or a Griffon design that passes it, you may be holding a wrong-planchet mint error — consult a professional numismatist immediately.
Step 4 — Weight Verification (Silver Authentication)
For the Griffon, where bullion value is paramount, weigh the coin on a calibrated digital scale. The Griffon must weigh exactly 23.3276 grams; a minor variation of ±0.1 g is acceptable. Any significant deviation on a Griffon warrants professional metallurgical verification. The Voyageur should weigh exactly 15.62 grams.
Step 5 — Identify the Finish (THE Critical Value Step)
Tilt the coin under a single light source and observe the fields (flat background areas) and devices (raised designs) separately:
- Business Strike (Voyageur only): Fields have a soft, satiny "cartwheel" lustre that spins around the coin as you tilt it. Fields and devices share the same unpolished texture. Minor bag marks and rim dings are almost always present. → Value table: Business Strike.
- Proof-Like / PL (Voyageur only): Fields are highly reflective and mirror-like — you can see your reflection clearly. Devices may have a faint milky frost. These coins originally came sealed in flat pliofilm (cellophane) strips inside a red envelope. → Value table: Voyageur PL.
- Specimen / SP (Voyageur and Griffon): Fields are deeply reflective but may show fine parallel microscopic lines (a hallmark of RCM specimen die preparation in this era), or a distinctly matte quality. Devices — the Queen's portrait, the ship, the canoe — are heavily frosted, creating a stark cameo effect. Griffon SP dollars originally came in black clamshell cases with red flocking; Voyageur SP dollars came from black leatherette Double Dollar book-style sets. → Value table: Voyageur SP or Griffon Silver.
Step 6 — Check for Marks
No documented mint marks appear on 1979 Canadian dollar coins. Neither the Voyageur nor the Griffon carries a facility letter or "W" mint mark — standard for Canadian circulation and collector coinage of this era. No documented privy marks or anniversary marks are recorded for this year.
ℹ️ PL Contamination in the Market
With approximately 187,624 PL sets produced in 1979, many have been broken open over the decades. A "shiny" 1979 Voyageur dollar found loose is almost certainly a PL coin, not a rare high-grade Business Strike. Dealers routinely discount raw "Uncirculated" 1979 dollars because they assume PL origin. If the coin has mirror fields, submit it as PL — not as MS.
Step 7 — Grading Services: ICCS vs PCGS/NGC
The International Coin Certification Service (ICCS) is the traditional Canadian standard and is notoriously strict on nickel coinage — an ICCS MS65 Voyageur is highly respected domestically. American services PCGS and NGC offer rigid acrylic slabs that are preferred for trophy-level certified coins (MS67, SP69, PF69) traded in the international auction market, and NGC assigns optical "Ultra Cameo" and "Deep Cameo" designations for Griffon dollars that drive premium auction realizations among registry set collectors.
1979 Canadian Dollar Value FAQs
What is a 1979 Canadian dollar worth?
It depends entirely on which type you have. The Voyageur nickel dollar is worth $1.00 face value in circulated grades; uncirculated examples start at $2.00 (MS60) and a certified Gem MS65 reaches $15.00. The Griffon silver commemorative carries a minimum melt value of approximately $45.25 CAD (February 2026) and a clean Specimen-65 trades around $55.00. The single fastest way to tell them apart is the magnet test: Voyageur sticks firmly, Griffon does not move at all.
Is my 1979 Canadian dollar silver?
Only the Griffon commemorative is silver — composed of 50% silver and 50% copper, with an Actual Silver Weight of 0.375 troy oz per coin. The standard Voyageur dollar is 100% nickel and contains no precious metal. Test your coin with a magnet: silver (Griffon) = no magnetic response; nickel (Voyageur) = strong magnetic attraction. The Griffon is also visibly larger (36.00 mm vs. 32.13 mm) and heavier (23.33 g vs. 15.62 g).
How do I calculate the melt value of a 1979 Griffon silver dollar?
Multiply the coin's Actual Silver Weight (ASW) of 0.375 troy oz (approximately 11.6638 grams of pure silver) by the current live silver spot price in CAD. As of February 2026, with silver at approximately $3.88 CAD per gram, the melt value is approximately $45.25 CAD. This figure changes daily; use the GoldBroker live CAD silver chart to recalculate. The melt value is the absolute minimum — no Griffon dollar in any condition should be sold for less than its silver weight.
What makes a 1979 Canadian dollar valuable?
For the Voyageur, value is driven almost exclusively by grade. The extreme hardness of pure nickel makes flawless uncirculated examples statistically rare — the jump from MS64 ($4.00) to MS65 ($15.00) is steep, and MS67 trophy examples have realized $288–$564 CAD. For the Griffon, the silver melt floor dominates base pricing, with modest numismatic premiums for SP65 and higher. At trophy grades (SP69/PF69 Ultra Cameo), cameo contrast quality — brilliant mirror fields against blazing frosted devices — is the key premium driver, and pristine clamshell preservation is critical.
What is the difference between Proof-Like (PL) and Specimen (SP) on a 1979 Voyageur dollar?
Both are collector-quality finishes, but they differ visually and in origin. Proof-Like (PL) Voyageur dollars came in flat pliofilm year sets and feature highly reflective mirror fields with only slight device frosting. Specimen (SP) Voyageur dollars came exclusively from the premium Double Dollar sets (alongside the Griffon) and feature matte or finely lined fields with heavily frosted devices, creating a stark cameo contrast. The SP is generally considered the superior finish. Importantly, PCGS and NGC certify PL coins using the PF (Proof) designation, while SP coins carry the SP designation — the RCM's own pre-1981 official terminology for its highest tier was always "Specimen."
Should I get my 1979 Canadian dollar graded?
Grading is only economically justified when the expected certified value significantly exceeds the submission cost (typically $30–$80+ CAD per coin depending on service tier). For the Voyageur Business Strike, submission makes sense only if the coin appears to grade MS65 or higher — below that, the cost of grading exceeds the coin's value. For the Griffon SP, certification adds meaningful value at SP67 and above, or whenever you believe you have a Deep Cameo or vividly toned example. ICCS is the Canadian domestic standard; PCGS/NGC slabs often yield higher auction realizations for trophy Griffon pieces in the international market.
Why does the MS65 Voyageur cost so much more than MS64?
This is the "grading cliff" effect specific to pure nickel coinage. At MS64, the coin is a common uncirculated piece worth about $4.00 — the surfaces have one or two light contact marks. At MS65, every high-relief point must be pristine: the Queen's cheekbones, the Voyageur paddler's head, the Northern Lights lines, and the canoe's waterlines. Because 15.62-gram nickel planchets crashed into each other in steel hoppers during production, virtually every business strike coin received marks at the moment of manufacture. A true MS65 had to somehow avoid all that contact and survive 45 years without developing any hairlines — making it a genuine rarity despite the 1.88 million circulation mintage.
Is the 1979 Griffon dollar rare?
At 688,671 individual clamshell cases produced, the Griffon is not rare in an absolute sense — it was one of the most widely distributed Canadian silver commemoratives of its era. However, condition rarity is significant: the red flocking inside the original clamshell cases contained sulfur compounds that reacted with the 50/50 silver-copper alloy over decades, causing tarnish and haze. Pristine examples with brilliant, untouched surfaces in SP67 or higher are genuinely scarce because so many coins were compromised by their own packaging. High-grade examples with exceptional cameo contrast or vivid rainbow toning command meaningful premiums over the melt floor.
What happens if the Griffon clamshell case has caused tarnish?
Light, symmetrical rainbow toning caused by controlled long-term reaction with the RCM packaging can actually add value to specialized aesthetic collectors — a vividly toned SP67 has been documented at a premium of roughly 2× to 3× base value. However, heavy black or brown tarnish severely limits eye appeal and marketability, reducing the coin effectively to its melt value. Under no circumstances should you attempt to remove tarnish by cleaning — wiping or dipping a specimen surface permanently imparts hairlines that third-party graders classify as "Altered Surfaces," destroying all numismatic premium. If you have a heavily toned Griffon, consult a professional conservator.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide represent typical CAD retail market prices as of February 2026, synthesized from the following primary sources. Values for the Griffon silver dollar incorporate a live silver spot benchmark of approximately $3.88 CAD/g (February 2026); as bullion prices fluctuate, all Griffon values should be recalculated against current spot. This guide covers standard (non-error) values only; errors are outside scope.
- Numista — 1979 Voyageur Dollar (KM-120.1): Mintage figures, physical specifications, and finish classifications.
- Numista — 1979 Griffon Dollar (KM-124): Silver specifications, ASW, and cataloging data.
- NGC Price Guide — Canada Dollar KM-120.1 (Voyageur): International certified market benchmarks.
- NGC Price Guide — Canada Dollar KM-124 (Griffon): Specimen and Proof valuation data.
- Calgary Coin Gallery — Canadian Dollar Coins: Domestic retail price benchmarks (2024).
- GoldBroker — Live Silver Price in CAD: Spot price basis for Griffon melt value calculations.
- LiveAuctioneers — 1979 Canada Silver Dollar auction records: Historical realized prices.
- GreatCollections — 1979 Griffon PCGS SP-67 Toned: Toned specimen auction archive.
- George Manz Coins — Canadian Silver Dollars: Retail aggregator pricing (2024).
- Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins: Charlton catalog numbers (RC-128, RC-808), variety documentation, and definitive Canadian numismatic reference.
- PCGS auction archives: Historical high-grade Voyageur dollar auction realizations.
Market values are estimates only and may differ from actual transaction prices. This guide is for informational purposes. The Canadian Currency Act prohibits the melting of Canadian coins of the realm.
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.