Alexander Graham Bell $1 Commemorative Coins

Summary#

This is the federal order that authorizes the Royal Canadian Mint to issue two commemorative one-dollar circulation coins for the 175th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell. The coins — one with colour and one without — share the same design showing Bell, the Silver Dart and the HD-4 hydrofoil. The order was published on July 6, 2022.

What it does#

• Authorizes the issue of two $1 circulation coins under the Royal Canadian Mint Act.
• Sets the coin diameter at 26.5 mm and specifies that the coins follow the Mint’s usual coin characteristics.
• Approves two versions of the same reverse design:
  • a coloured version (with light blue wave shapes, a black-and-white Silver Dart, a grey/black/white HD-4 hydrofoil, a portrait of Alexander Graham Bell with his signature, and a security mark), and
  • a non‑coloured version with the same elements but without the added colour.
• Specifies the obverse (front) design as the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt with the usual inscriptions and date 2022.
• Confirms design elements such as the inscription “175 YEARS / ANS”, the artist’s initials, beading around the rim, and a maple-leaf security mark.

Who's affected#

• Royal Canadian Mint — will design, produce and distribute the coins from its facility.
• Banks and other financial institutions — will handle distribution and public coin exchanges.
• Coin collectors and dealers — likely to buy and hold many of the commemorative coins.
• Members of the public who use cash — may receive these coins in everyday transactions.
• Organizations consulted on the design include the Alexander and Mabel Bell Legacy Foundation, the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site (Parks Canada), the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Ingenium), and the Canada Science and Technology Museums (Ingenium).
• The Mint tested public appeal with 2,513 respondents, finding 96% said the design was appealing.

Why it matters#

• These coins put a piece of Canadian history into everyday use and help raise public awareness of Alexander Graham Bell and his inventions.
• As commemorative circulation coins are commonly collected, many will be removed from circulation and kept as keepsakes, which matters to collectors and historians.
• The government says there are no extra costs to Canadians; the Mint covers program costs and distributes coins through banks.
• The order is a routine use of the Mint’s authority and does not, according to the Mint, affect Indigenous rights or modern treaty obligations.