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This is a question I have been asking myself for a long time.  I mean no disrespect to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II, but her link to Canada has become so minimal of the the last 25 years that it that its rather funny that her picture remains on all of our coins.  Would there not be anyone else worthy of putting on Canadian coins?

The United States for example have so many variety of coins, right from the original Lincoln Wheat Penny of 1909 which changed in 1958 to the varieties of Gold Quarter Eagles, Half Eagles, Eagles and Double Eagles.  Figures on U.S. coins are allowed to be changed every 25 years.  Sure, U.S coins have pictures of president’s on them, but look how many there have been.  The variety that this allows allows the U.S. to keep its coins fresh and updated.  Even the commemorative coins the U.S. comes with use the many figures to create varieties.  For example, the presidential dollar sets that are currently being sold, for every presidential dollar, another $5 gold coin is issued for their spouse.  Not to mention the long history of silver commemoratives for events like the Panama Pacfic Exhibition of 1915, or the Oregon Trail Silver piece.

Canada certainly does have nice coins, no doubt, and some valuable one as well.  For example, the 1921 50 cent piece, which in good condition can fetch upward of $30,000.  The coin features the face of King George the V, who at that point certainly held more significance in Canada than his grandaughter does today.

I think its time for Canada to start diverifying its coinage, start using more Prime Ministers perhaps or people of significance to Canada.  The Queen has had her turn.