2013 Canadian One-Dollar (Loonie) Value Guide
Complete 2013 Canadian loonie value guide — five designs, three compositions (plated steel, bronze-nickel, 99.99% silver), and every finish (Business Strike, BU, Specimen, Silver Proof). Current CAD prices by grade as of February 2026.
Most 2013 Canadian loonies found in pocket change are worth $1.00–$1.25 CAD (face to minimal premium). In top certified grades (MS-67), Business Strike values reach $75–$150+ CAD. Collector issues range from $35–$175 CAD depending on design and finish.
- Circulated (pocket change — Standard Loon):$1.00–$1.25 CAD
- Brilliant Uncirculated (Mint Uncirculated Sets):$5.00–$8.00 CAD (MS64–MS65 typical)
- Blue-Winged Teal Specimen (Specimen Sets only):$35.00–$45.00 CAD
- Arctic Expedition Silver Proof (NCLT):$130–$175 CAD
- Korean Armistice Silver Proof (NCLT):$120–$160 CAD
- Seven Years War Silver Proof (NCLT):$125–$165 CAD
- Top-Pop Business Strike (MS-67):$75–$150+ CAD
Found in change? The 2013 Standard Loon is a base-metal coin with a steel core — it is strongly magnetic and holds minimal premium in circulated condition. Shiny or from a set? BU Uncirculated Set examples are worth $5–$8; a coin without the security mark above the loon is the far more valuable Blue-Winged Teal Specimen ($35–$45). Is it silver? Only the three NCLT collector issues (Arctic Expedition, Korean Armistice, Seven Years War) are silver — they are perfectly round, weigh 23.17 g, have a reeded edge, and will not attract a magnet. Their silver melt floor is $92.00 CAD as of February 27, 2026. All values in CAD. See full value chart →
The 2013 Canadian one-dollar coin is among the most complex year-denominations in modern Canadian numismatics, encompassing five distinct reverse designs, three separate metal compositions, and four distinct finish types across both circulating currency and premium collector products. The year coincided with the Canadian government's official phase-out of the one-cent piece, which dramatically increased production of higher-denomination coinage — particularly the dollar — to support the new cash-rounding system. The Standard Common Loon was the only 2013 design released for general commerce; four additional designs were issued exclusively for collector sets and NCLT (Non-Circulating Legal Tender) silver programs. For values across all years of the dollar coin, see our Canadian Loonie Value Guide.
Note: Errors such as off-center strikes and wrong-planchet coins exist for the 2013 dollar but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
2013 Canadian Loonie Composition & Melt Value
The 2013 Canadian one-dollar program uses three entirely distinct chemical compositions. Identifying which composition you hold is the critical first step in determining value — a gram-accurate jeweler's scale and a simple magnet will tell you everything you need to know.
Three 2013 Canadian dollar coins side-by-side on a calibrated scale: the 6.27 g steel-core Loon, the 7.00 g bronze-nickel Teal, and the 23.17 g silver NCLT issue. Weight alone distinguishes all three compositions. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coins)
Specimen Blue-Winged Teal: 7.00 g | Bronze-plated nickel | 26.5 mm | Hendecagonal (11-sided) | Plain edge | Non-magnetic or weakly magnetic
NCLT Silver Issues: 23.17 g | 99.99% fine silver | 36.07 mm | Round | Reeded edge | Non-magnetic (diamagnetic)
Multi-Ply Brass-Plated Steel (Standard Loon — Circulation and BU Uncirculated Sets)
The Standard Common Loon struck for general circulation and Brilliant Uncirculated collector sets uses a solid low-carbon steel core electroplated with alternating microscopic layers of copper and brass through the Royal Canadian Mint's patented multi-ply process. Introduced officially across the one-dollar denomination in 2012, this composition maintains the signature golden aureate colour associated with the Loonie since 1987 while keeping production costs low. The specific electromagnetic signature generated by the alternating layers also allows commercial vending machines and transit systems to verify authenticity and reject sophisticated counterfeits instantly. Intrinsic melt value is negligible — the scrap value of the steel core and trace plating on a 6.27-gram planchet is functionally zero in any retail or numismatic context. All value for circulation and BU examples is numismatic, not metallurgical.
Bronze-Plated Nickel (Blue-Winged Teal — Specimen Set Only)
The Blue-Winged Teal dollar included in the 2013 Specimen Set reverts to the pre-2012 alloy: a solid nickel core electroplated with aureate bronze. This heavier, denser composition (7.00 g versus 6.27 g for the steel coin) allows the extreme pressure of Specimen coining presses to produce flawless, deeply striated matte fields without exposing an underlying steel core. The different weight is a reliable diagnostic: if a 2013 dollar reads 7.00 g on a calibrated scale, it is the Specimen Blue-Winged Teal — a significantly more valuable coin. Intrinsic melt value is negligible — nickel is not classified as a precious metal, and the numismatic premium far exceeds any scrap value.
99.99% Fine Silver — "Four Nines" (NCLT Collector Issues)
The three commemorative NCLT silver dollars — the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, the 60th Anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, and the 250th Anniversary of the End of the Seven Years War — are struck on large, heavy blanks composed of 99.99% pure silver. Each coin weighs 23.17 grams, yielding approximately 0.745 troy ounces of chemically pure silver. The softness of four-nines silver is ideal for the RCM's Proof finishing process, allowing polished dies to strike incredibly deep mirror fields and capture microscopic frosting details on the raised design elements.
Melt Value Calculation (as of February 27, 2026):
Spot price source: Canada Gold — Today's Silver Prices ($3.97 CAD/g as of February 27, 2026)
Formula: Weight × Purity × Spot = Melt
Calculation: 23.17 g × 0.9999 × $3.97 CAD = $92.00 CAD
ℹ️ The $92.00 CAD Silver Melt Floor
At current silver spot prices, the $92.00 CAD melt value functions as a firm, unbreakable pricing floor for all 2013 NCLT silver issues. Regardless of a specific coin's theme or its popularity among pure numismatists, it will not trade below its silver content value. These coins effectively function as premium bullion products with a collector premium on top.
⚠️ Never Clean Your Coins
Cleaning a Proof or Specimen coin — even gently with a soft microfiber cloth — leaves irreversible hairline scratches in the delicate mirrored or matte fields. A cleaned coin is permanently graded "Details — Cleaned" and loses all numismatic premium. This applies equally to base-metal BU and Specimen issues. For 2013 NCLT pure silver coins removed from original RCM capsules and stored in older PVC-containing flips: watch for sticky, pale green residue — this is PVC plasticizer breaking down, which will permanently pit and corrode the pure silver surface. Professional conservation with pure acetone is required. Do not use nail polish remover.
2013 Canadian Loonie Value Chart by Design & Finish
The 2013 Canadian one-dollar program spans five distinct reverse designs and six product types. Values are sharply bifurcated between high-mintage base-metal issues and low-mintage NCLT silver collector coins. All values in CAD as of February 2026.
Standard Common Loon — Business Strike (Circulation)
ℹ️ The Grade Value Cliff
For the 2013 Standard Loon Business Strike, coins graded MS60–MS64 are relatively common and hold minimal premium over face value. The exponential jump begins at MS65 (Gem) and accelerates sharply at MS67 (Top Population). Heavy 11-sided planchets ejected at high speed into steel hoppers virtually guarantee bag marks — which is precisely what makes a clean MS67 example exceptional and highly sought by registry set builders.
Side-by-side grade comparison for the 2013 Standard Loon Business Strike: circulated (bag marks, worn high points), MS63 (Uncirculated but marked), MS65 Gem (few marks), and MS67 Top Pop (virtually flawless). (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
| Type | Circulated | BU Typical (MS60–MS63) | Top Pop (MS67) | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Common Loon (With Security Mark) | $1.00–$1.25 | $2.75–$3.50 | $75–$150+ | 120,330,000 | Strongly magnetic (plated steel). Micro-engraved maple leaf security mark above loon. No mint mark. Value cliff at MS65+. |
Sources: Coins Unlimited Retail Data (Feb 2026); Numista Market Aggregation (Feb 2026). MS67 ceiling reflects aggregated modern registry market trends and dealer fixed-price lists; major auction houses rarely single-lot these coins, with most top-pop transactions occurring privately between registry set builders.
Standard Common Loon — Brilliant Uncirculated (Uncirculated Sets)
| Type | BU Typical (MS64–MS65) | Mintage (Set) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Common Loon — BU from Uncirculated Sets | $5.00–$8.00 | 75,000 | From flat cellophane Mint packaging. Mirror-like fields, frosted devices, far fewer bag marks than Business Strikes. |
Source: Coins Unlimited Retail Data (Feb 2026); Charlton Standard Catalogue (2025 Edition); Royal Canadian Mint — 2013 Uncirculated Set Archive.
ℹ️ BU Set Contamination
With 75,000 Uncirculated Sets produced in 2013, many have been broken open over the years. A "shiny" 2013 Standard Loon found loose in a dealer's stock or a collection is almost certainly a BU coin removed from its original cellophane packaging — not a rare high-grade Business Strike. Dealers often discount raw "Uncirculated" examples from this era because they assume BU-set origin.
Blue-Winged Teal — Specimen (Specimen Sets Only)
| Design | Finish | Typical Value (SP68) | Mintage (Set) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Teal (75th Anniv. Ducks Unlimited Canada — Glen Loates) | Specimen (SP) | $35.00–$45.00 | 50,000 | Bronze-plated nickel (7.00 g). Non-magnetic or weakly magnetic. No security mark. Exclusively from Specimen Sets. Never released for commerce. |
Sources: Royal Canadian Mint — 2013 Specimen Set Archive; Coins Unlimited Retail Data (Feb 2026).
The three 2013 NCLT 99.99% pure silver dollar reverses: Arctic Expedition (three explorers with dog sled and compass), Korean Armistice (Hercules vs. hydra), and Seven Years War (colonial montage looking east). All are round, reeded-edge, 23.17 g coins with a $92.00 CAD silver melt floor. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coins)
100th Anniversary Canadian Arctic Expedition — NCLT Pure Silver
| Finish | Typical Value (with Box/COA) | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) | $110–$150 | 20,000 | 99.99% silver, 23.17 g. Non-magnetic. Round, reeded edge. Designed by Bonnie Ross. |
| Silver Proof (PR/PF) | $130–$175 | 40,000 | Deep mirror fields, heavy cameo frosting. Highest mintage of the Arctic Expedition formats. |
| Silver Specimen (SP) — From Silver Specimen Set | $100–$140 | 20,000 (Set) | Matte/lined fields, dual-tone frosted devices. |
Sources: Royal Canadian Mint — Arctic Expedition BU Archive; Canadian Coin & Currency (Feb 2026); Numista Market Aggregation (Feb 2026).
60th Anniversary Korean Armistice Agreement — Silver Proof (NCLT)
| Design | Finish | Typical Value (with Box/COA) | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Armistice — Hercules & Hydra (Edward Carter Preston) | Silver Proof (PR/PF) | $120–$160 | 10,000 | 99.99% silver, 23.17 g. Non-magnetic. Lowest mintage of all 2013 NCLT silver dollars (tied with Seven Years War). Deep mirror Proof finish. |
Source: Imaginaire Retail Data (Feb 2026); Royal Canadian Mint Archives (Feb 2026).
250th Anniversary End of the Seven Years War — Silver Proof (NCLT)
| Design | Finish | Typical Value (with Box/COA) | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Years War — Colonial Montage (Tony Bianco) | Silver Proof (PR/PF) | $125–$165 | 10,000 | 99.99% silver, 23.17 g. Non-magnetic. Lowest mintage of all 2013 NCLT silver dollars (tied with Korean Armistice). Deep mirror Proof finish. |
Source: Canadian Coin & Currency (Feb 2026); Royal Canadian Mint Archives (Feb 2026).
All values in CAD, February 2026. Silver melt floor for NCLT issues: $92.00 CAD (23.17 g × 0.9999 × $3.97 CAD/g — spot price as of February 27, 2026). NCLT coins with original box and certificate of authenticity (COA) command strongest secondary market prices; unboxed examples may trade closer to silver melt. For values across all years, see our Canadian Loonie Value Guide.
Most Valuable 2013 Canadian Loonie Varieties
The 2013 Canadian one-dollar program yields two distinct categories of elevated value beyond standard grade-and-finish premiums: conditional rarity at the top of the population for Business Strike coins, and a documented die variety found within the Uncirculated Sets.
Trophy-Level: Top-Population Business Strike (MS-67)
Absolute rarity does not exist for the 2013 Standard Loon — 120,330,000 were struck for commerce. Instead, the highest valuations for this issue are driven entirely by conditional rarity. The coin's 11-sided profile and 6.27-gram weight cause planchets to violently contact one another when ejected into steel holding hoppers at the Winnipeg facility, producing bag marks, rim dings, and surface abrasions before the coin even leaves the Mint. Finding a specimen that has somehow survived this industrial process without significant contact damage is genuinely exceptional. Registry set builders — collectors who compete globally to assemble the highest-graded set of a specific coin series — pay steep premiums for coins certified at stratospheric grades by ICCS or PCGS.
| What | Why It Commands a Premium | Required Grade | Documented Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Standard Loon — Top Population Gem | Conditional rarity: 11-sided heavy base-metal planchets survive the industrial hopper process without severe bag marks only in exceptional circumstances | PCGS MS-67 or ICCS MS-67 | $75–$150+ CAD |
Source: Aggregated modern registry market trends and dealer fixed-price lists (February 2026). Major auction houses rarely single-lot these coins; most top-pop transactions occur privately between registry set builders or via direct dealer inventory.
Findable Variety: Class IV Offset Hub Doubling (Doubled Die Reverse — Uncirculated Sets Only)
Close-up comparison under magnification: a normal 2013 Uncirculated Set Loon reverse (left) versus the Class IV Offset Hub Doubled Die (right), showing distinct directional doubling and sharp notching on "CANADA" and "DOLLAR" and the left wall of the security incuse circle. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
The most significant documented die variety for the 2013 Canadian dollar is a verified Class IV Offset Hub Doubling on the reverse, recognized in Charlton Standard Catalogue variety addendums and explicitly documented by Coin World's Varieties Notebook. It is critical to distinguish this from mechanical doubling. Mechanical doubling is an extremely common, no-premium striking artifact caused by a loose die shifting during the physical strike — it creates a flat, shelf-like appearance on lettering. The 2013 variety is a true doubled die: the anomaly occurred during the physical creation of the die itself at the Ottawa facility, meaning every coin struck by that specific die exhibits the exact same doubling pattern.
ℹ️ Critical — Where to Look
This doubled die occurred exclusively on precision dies used in Ottawa to strike coins for the 2013 Uncirculated Sets (maximum mintage: 75,000 sets). It was not found on the Business Strike dies used in Winnipeg for the 120,330,000 circulation coins. To search for this variety, examine coins sourced directly from original flat cellophane Uncirculated packaging only.
| Variant | Charlton Reference | How to Identify (Under Magnification) | Premium Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class IV Offset Hub Doubling (DDR) | Listed in Charlton standard variety addendums | Distinct directional doubling and sharp notching on "CANADA" and "DOLLAR", the designer's initials, the trees at the water's edge, and the left wall of the security incuse circle | $30–$75+ CAD depending on severity of doubling and MS grade |
Source: Coin World Varieties Notebook — "Canadian sets have doubled die Loon dollar" (2013–2026); Gatewest Coins numismatic analysis (2013–2026).
Major mint errors can be highly valuable, but they are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
2013 Canadian Loonie Identification Guide
Properly identifying a 2013 Canadian dollar requires a systematic approach — this single year encompasses three different metal compositions, five reverse designs, and four distinct finish types. A six-step checklist will tell you exactly which coin you hold and what it is worth.
2013 Canadian loonie obverse featuring the Susanna Blunt Fourth Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II — bare-headed, facing right, with pearl necklace and stud earrings. The portrait was adapted for high-speed coinage by RCM engraver Susan Taylor. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
30-Second Identification Checklist
- Monarch/Obverse: Confirm the Susanna Blunt Fourth Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II — depicted bare-headed, facing right, wearing a simple pearl necklace and stud earrings. This portrait was used from 2003 through 2022. If the effigy differs, the coin is not a standard 2013 issue.
- Reverse Design: What is the dominant image? Use the design guide below to identify which of the five 2013 designs you hold — this determines both product type and value range.
- Shape and Edge: Is the coin eleven-sided with a plain, smooth edge? That is the base-metal loonie (circulation, BU, or Specimen). Is the coin perfectly round with sharp vertical serrations (reeded edge)? That is the 99.99% silver NCLT collector issue.
- Magnet Test: Apply a magnet to the coin. The result immediately identifies the composition — see the Magnet Test section below.
- Finish Identification: Examine the background fields (not the raised devices) under a direct light source — see Finish Diagnostics below.
- Condition: Does the coin show friction wear and flattening on the high points of the design (loon's back feathers, outer legends), or is the surface perfectly pristine?
Design Identification Guide
Left: 2013 Standard Common Loon reverse (circulation / BU) with the micro-engraved maple leaf security mark in incuse circle above the loon's back. Right: 2013 Blue-Winged Teal reverse (Specimen Set only) — no security mark present. The absence of the security mark is the fastest way to identify the higher-value Specimen coin. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
- Standard Common Loon (Circulation / BU): The iconic Common Loon floating on calm water, designed by Robert-Ralph Carmichael. Look for the micro-engraved maple leaf nestled within a small incuse circle directly above the loon's back — this RCM anti-counterfeiting security feature was introduced in 2012 and appears on all circulation and BU examples.
- Blue-Winged Teal (Specimen Set only): A highly detailed duck perched on a submerged branch surrounded by marsh grass, designed by Glen Loates. This design does not contain the security mark. A 2013 loonie-shaped coin without the incuse security circle is the Blue-Winged Teal Specimen — a significantly more valuable coin ($35–$45 CAD versus $1.00–$1.25 CAD for the circulation Loon).
- Arctic Expedition (NCLT Silver — round, reeded): Three men in heavy winter parkas standing beside a fully loaded dog sled, with a massive stylized compass dominating the background sky, designed by Bonnie Ross. Honors the international scientific crew that mapped Canada's High Arctic from 1913 to 1916.
- Korean Armistice (NCLT Silver — round, reeded): Hercules actively engaging in combat with a multi-headed hydra monster — a powerful allegory for the Korean War conflict. Design adapted from original medal engraving by Edward Carter Preston.
- Seven Years War (NCLT Silver — round, reeded): A dense historical montage of British and French soldiers, First Nations people, and colonial civilians looking east over a stylized 18th-century map of the Atlantic Ocean, designed by Tony Bianco.
10× magnification of the micro-engraved maple leaf security feature on the 2013 Standard Loon — a tiny maple leaf sits within a small incuse circle positioned directly above the loon's back. This anti-counterfeiting feature was introduced by the RCM in 2012 and is absent from the Blue-Winged Teal Specimen. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
Magnet Test — Composition Verification
The 2013 loonie magnet test: the steel-core Standard Loon clings firmly (left); the bronze-nickel Specimen Teal shows little or no attraction (centre); the 99.99% pure silver NCLT coin is completely diamagnetic and falls away (right). A magnet and a scale together identify any 2013 dollar coin within seconds. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
- Strongly magnetic: Multi-ply brass-plated steel core. This is the Standard Common Loon struck for circulation or Brilliant Uncirculated sets (6.27 g). A 2013 standard loonie that does not attract a magnet is either counterfeit or an extremely unusual off-metal anomaly.
- Non-magnetic or only weakly magnetic: Bronze-plated nickel core. This is the Blue-Winged Teal Specimen coin (7.00 g). Solid nickel may exhibit very weak or no magnetic response compared to the fierce attraction of the steel loonie.
- Completely non-magnetic (diamagnetic): 99.99% pure silver. All three NCLT collector issues — Arctic Expedition, Korean Armistice, and Seven Years War — exhibit zero attraction to a magnet.
Weight Verification (secondary check): Use a jeweler's scale calibrated to 0.01 g. Standard circulation Loon: 6.27 g. Specimen Blue-Winged Teal: 7.00 g. NCLT Silver issues: 23.17 g. Any significant deviation outside normal mint tolerances is a serious red flag for counterfeiting or alteration.
Finish Identification Diagnostics
Four 2013 loonie finish types compared under a direct light source. Left to right: Business Strike (cartwheel luster, bag marks visible), Brilliant Uncirculated from Mint Set (mirror fields, frosted loon, minimal marks), Specimen (matte parallel-striation fields, dual-tone frosted devices), Silver Proof (deep liquid-mirror fields, intensely frosted white devices — cameo contrast). (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coins)
- Business Strike: Found exclusively in pocket change or bank rolls. Exhibits the classic "cartwheel" metallic sweep when tilted under a light source. Will almost always show bag marks, minor surface abrasions, and a uniform golden aureate tone.
- Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): From flat cellophane Uncirculated Sets. Background fields are highly brilliant and mirror-like; raised devices (the loon) carry a slight delicate frosting. Far fewer contact marks than Business Strikes.
- Specimen (SP): Exclusively from booklet-style Specimen Sets — this is the only finish available on the Blue-Winged Teal dollar. Background fields feature exceptionally fine, parallel striations creating a distinctive matte, lined appearance. Raised devices combine brilliant machine-polishing with heavy laser-frosting for a complex dual-tone effect.
- Proof (PR/PF): From heavy leather or velvet presentation cases — restricted to the three NCLT silver issues. Fields are flawless, deep liquid mirrors that appear almost black when reflecting empty space; devices are intensely frosted white, producing a dramatic cameo contrast.
No Documented Mint Marks: No mint marks appear on any 2013 Canadian dollar coin, regardless of design or finish. The Winnipeg facility handles Business Strikes; the Ottawa facility handles BU, Specimen, and NCLT silver issues. This is standard for Canadian coinage of this era.
2013 Canadian Loonie Value FAQs
What is a 2013 Canadian loonie worth?
It depends entirely on which of the five designs and four finish types you hold. A circulated Standard Common Loon from pocket change is worth $1.00–$1.25 CAD. A Brilliant Uncirculated example from a Mint Uncirculated Set is $5.00–$8.00 CAD. The Specimen Blue-Winged Teal trades for $35.00–$45.00 CAD. The three NCLT silver collector coins range from $100 to $175 CAD depending on design and finish, all supported by a $92.00 CAD silver melt floor. Top-certified Business Strikes at MS-67 reach $75–$150+ CAD.
Is a 2013 Canadian loonie rare?
The Standard Common Loon Business Strike is not rare — 120,330,000 were struck for commerce. However, finding a flawless example that survived the industrial hopper process without significant bag marks is genuinely difficult at the MS65+ grade level. The Blue-Winged Teal Specimen (50,000 sets) and the NCLT silver issues (10,000–40,000 per type) are meaningfully scarcer, but their values are largely determined by silver content and original packaging condition rather than extreme scarcity. The Korean Armistice and Seven Years War silver proofs, each at 10,000 coins, represent the lowest mintages in the 2013 dollar program.
Is my 2013 Canadian dollar coin silver?
Only three specific 2013 dollar coins contain silver: the 100th Anniversary Canadian Arctic Expedition, the 60th Anniversary Korean Armistice Agreement, and the 250th Anniversary End of the Seven Years War — all 99.99% pure silver NCLT collector issues. You can identify them immediately: they are perfectly round (not 11-sided), weigh 23.17 g, have a reeded (serrated) edge, and show zero attraction to a magnet. If your 2013 dollar is 11-sided, magnetic, and light (6.27 g or 7.00 g), it is a base-metal coin with negligible intrinsic metal value.
What makes a 2013 Standard Loon valuable in high grades?
Value is driven entirely by conditional rarity. The 11-sided profile and 6.27-gram weight of the loonie cause planchets to violently contact each other during high-speed ejection into steel hoppers at the Winnipeg Mint — producing bag marks and surface abrasions before the coin even leaves the facility. Finding a flawless specimen is genuinely exceptional. Registry set collectors pay steep premiums for coins certified at MS-67 or higher by ICCS or PCGS. The significant value cliff occurs at MS65, with an exponential acceleration at MS67.
What is the Blue-Winged Teal dollar and where does it come from?
The Blue-Winged Teal dollar is an exclusive Specimen-finish coin designed by renowned Canadian wildlife artist Glen Loates, issued solely within the 2013 Specimen Set to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Ducks Unlimited Canada. It was never released for general circulation and has never been sold individually by the Mint — it can only be obtained as part of the original set. It also uses a different metal composition than the circulation loonie (bronze-plated nickel, 7.00 g) and does not carry the micro-engraved security mark. It trades for $35.00–$45.00 CAD in typical secondary market conditions.
What is the Doubled Die variety and how do I find it?
The 2013 Class IV Offset Hub Doubling (Doubled Die Reverse) is a documented die variety listed in Charlton Standard Catalogue addendums and confirmed by Coin World's Varieties Notebook. Under magnification, look for distinct directional doubling and sharp notching on the words "CANADA" and "DOLLAR," the designer's initials, the trees at the water's edge, and the left wall of the security incuse circle. Critically, this variety occurred only on Ottawa-facility dies used for the 2013 Uncirculated Sets — not on the Winnipeg Business Strike dies. To search for it, examine coins from original flat cellophane Mint Uncirculated Set packaging. Premium: $30–$75+ CAD depending on doubling severity and grade.
Should I get my 2013 loonie graded?
For Business Strikes, grading economics only justify the expense if you believe the coin will achieve MS-65 or higher — coins below that threshold carry minimal premium that rarely offsets grading fees. ICCS (International Coin Certification Service) and CCCS (Canadian Coin Certification Service) are the domestic Canadian standard and are highly respected by Canadian auction houses and dealers for post-1968 decimal series. ICCS in particular is known for strict, conservative grading on modern base-metal coins. PCGS and NGC are globally respected alternatives that dominate the high-end international market. For NCLT silver Proof issues, grading adds less value since packaging condition largely guarantees coin quality — however, registry competition at PF-70 can generate premiums for the strongest examples.
What is the difference between the Specimen and Proof finishes on 2013 dollars?
Specimen (SP) coins — like the Blue-Winged Teal — have matte, finely striated background fields produced by exceptionally fine die preparation, combined with a dual-tone effect on raised devices (machine-polished brilliance with heavy laser-frosting). Proof (PR/PF) coins — the NCLT silver Arctic Expedition, Korean Armistice, and Seven Years War — have deep, liquid-mirror background fields that appear almost black when reflecting empty space, with intensely frosted white devices creating stark cameo contrast. Specimen coins come from booklet-style Specimen Sets; Proof coins come from heavy leather or velvet presentation cases. Both finishes should never be handled by the fields — always support by the edge.
Is there a 2013 "Lucky Loonie"?
No. The Royal Canadian Mint's highly popular Lucky Loonie commemorative program did not issue a coin dated 2013. While the Mint did release a 2013–2014 Special Edition Uncirculated Set, the Lucky Loonie contained within that specific set bears the 2014 date, making 2013 an intentional gap year for that commemorative line.
Are all NCLT silver issues worth the same?
No. While all three share the same silver melt floor of $92.00 CAD (as of February 2026), their numismatic premiums differ based on mintage and thematic popularity. The Arctic Expedition is available in three finishes (Silver BU, Silver Proof, Silver Specimen) with the Proof mintage at 40,000. The Korean Armistice and Seven Years War are available only as Silver Proof with the lowest mintages of the three (10,000 each). Typical secondary market values with original box and certificate of authenticity range from $100–$140 (Arctic Silver Specimen) up to $130–$175 (Arctic Silver Proof). Coins without original packaging typically trade closer to the silver melt floor.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide reflect prevailing secondary market retail pricing and aggregated collector platform data as of February 2026. No market predictions are made. Individual coins may trade above or below stated typical ranges depending on specific certified grade, original packaging integrity, and prevailing silver spot prices at time of sale.
Primary sources consulted:
- Royal Canadian Mint (mint.ca) — 2013 Uncirculated Set Archive: Definitive compositional specifications, designer attributions, and original mintage statistics for circulation and BU issues.
- Royal Canadian Mint — 2013 Specimen Set (Blue-Winged Teal) Archive: Blue-Winged Teal specifications, composition, and set mintage confirmation.
- Royal Canadian Mint — Arctic Expedition Silver BU Archive: NCLT silver specifications and mintage confirmation.
- Numista — 2013 Canadian $1 Common Loon (4th Portrait): Aggregated secondary market valuations and structural cataloguing data.
- Numista — 2013 Canadian $1 Arctic Expedition: NCLT silver market aggregation and KM reference data.
- Coin World Varieties Notebook — "Canadian sets have doubled die Loon dollar": Primary documentation of the Class IV Offset Hub Doubling variety, including John Wexler's detailed diagnostic analysis.
- Canada Gold — Today's Silver Prices: Silver spot price of $3.97 CAD/g as of February 27, 2026, used to calculate the $92.00 CAD melt value for all NCLT silver issues.
- Coins Unlimited and Canadian Coin & Currency: Current domestic retail availability and secondary market pricing for circulation, BU, Specimen, and NCLT silver issues.
- Imaginaire: Retail data for the Korean Armistice Silver Proof.
- Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins (2025 Edition): Variety addendums, base-level pricing baselines, and historical series context.
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.