Beyond the Queen's likeness on the obverse, here's what's on the reverse: penny - maple leaf (copper coloured) nickel (5c) - beaver (silver) dime (10c) - Bluenose, a famous schooner known both as a racing ship and a working fishing vessel (silver) quarter (25c) - caribou (silver) 50c - Canadian coat of arms (silver, and I've never seen one in my life) loonie ($1) - common loon, hence the name (gold) toonie ($2) - polar bear (silver around a gold centre)
Obviously, the colours do not denote the presence of fine metals. Most coins are made of (a combination of) copper, steel, brass, tin, etc.
The names "loonie" and "toonie" were what the public latched onto and immediately became the common names (though I personally was hoping for "doubloon"). Yay for silliness on a grand scale.
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Date: 2012-07-04 03:07 pm (UTC)Beyond the Queen's likeness on the obverse, here's what's on the reverse:
penny - maple leaf (copper coloured)
nickel (5c) - beaver (silver)
dime (10c) - Bluenose, a famous schooner known both as a racing ship and a working fishing vessel (silver)
quarter (25c) - caribou (silver)
50c - Canadian coat of arms (silver, and I've never seen one in my life)
loonie ($1) - common loon, hence the name (gold)
toonie ($2) - polar bear (silver around a gold centre)
Obviously, the colours do not denote the presence of fine metals. Most coins are made of (a combination of) copper, steel, brass, tin, etc.
The names "loonie" and "toonie" were what the public latched onto and immediately became the common names (though I personally was hoping for "doubloon"). Yay for silliness on a grand scale.