6 denominations on record · Elizabeth II on the obverse
Canadian coins dated 1988
Nothing struck for circulation in 1988 contains any silver. Whatever a 1988 coin is worth, it is not worth it as metal.
Coins struck in 1988, all denominations
940,181,849Across 6 of the 6 denominations on record for 1988. Nothing dated 1988 was struck in a silver-bearing alloy, so there is no melt figure for this year. Value here is a question about condition and scarcity, not about metal.
Every denomination dated 1988
| Coin | Composition in 1988 | Weight | Silver | Mintage | Magnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cent penny | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc | 2.5 g | none | 482,676,752 | not attracted |
| 5 cents nickel | 75% copper, 25% nickel | 4.6 g | none | 75,025,000 | not stated |
| 10 cents dime | 99.9% nickel | 2.07 g | none | 162,998,558 | attracted |
| 25 cents quarter | 99.9% nickel | 5.05 g | none | 80,368,000 | attracted |
| 50 cents half dollar | 99% nickel (minimum) | 8.1 g | none | 220,000 | attracted |
| 1 dollar | 91.5% nickel, 8.5% bronze plating | 7 g | none | 138,893,539 | attracted |
What was on the coins
1 cent
The maple leaf twig (12-sided coin)
The shape of the maple leaf twig was altered to make identification easier for the visually impaired. The coin reverted to the round design in 1997.
5 cents
The beaver design was created in 1937 by G.E. Kruger-Gray as part of a coin modernization effort.
25 cents
Emanuel Hahn's caribou design was adopted in 1937 in an effort to modernize Canada's circulation coins.
50 cents
The Canadian Government approved a new Coat of Arms in 1957. In 1959 it appeared on the 50-cent coin, where it remains to this day.
1 dollar
The 1-dollar bill was replaced in 1987 by a new eleven-sided circulation coin nicknamed the 'Loonie'. Robert-Ralph Carmichael's popular design features a Canadian loon, and is made of aureate bronze.
Whose portrait is on it
A Canadian coin dated 1988 carries the effigy of Elizabeth II, used from 1965 to 1989.
This updated effigy of Queen Elizabeth II appeared with the inscription ELIZABETH II D G REGINA, a shortened form of the original.
What 1988 coins sell for
Completed sales rather than a catalogue value, because we do not publish catalogue values.
Completed sales, newest first, so you are looking at what buyers paid rather than what sellers are asking. Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it changes nothing on this page.