Supreme Court 150th Anniversary $1 Coins

Summary#

The Royal Canadian Mint is authorized to issue two commemorative one-dollar circulation coins marking the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada. The coins share the same design in two versions (one with colour and one without) and will be launched on April 8, 2025; each coin will be 26.5 mm in diameter.

What it does#

• Authorizes the Mint, under the Royal Canadian Mint Act, to produce two circulating commemorative one-dollar coins for the Supreme Court’s 150th anniversary.
• Creates two versions of the same reverse design:
  • a coloured version with a blue circle over hash-mark pattern, and
  • a non-coloured version with the same imagery but without the blue colour.
• Common design elements on the reverse:
  • the façade of the Supreme Court of Canada,
  • the anniversary logo showing 150 and the dates 1875–2025, with a laurel branch,
  • bilingual inscriptions “SUPREME COURT OF CANADA” / “COUR SUPRÊME DU CANADA” and “CANADA” / “DOLLAR”,
  • a layered security mark made of nested maple leaves in a circle, and the artist’s initials “SP”.
• Obverse (front) of both coins shows the effigy of His Majesty King Charles III by Steven Rosati, with the year 2025 and beading around the rim.
• The order lets the Mint begin production and distribute the coins through banks and coin exchanges; no new rules, fees, or transaction changes are created.

Who's affected#

• People who use cash and may receive the new one-dollar coins in everyday transactions.
• Coin collectors and numismatists who typically seek out commemorative circulation coins.
• Royal Canadian Mint (production and distribution) and financial institutions that will handle distribution and exchanges.
• The wider public, since these coins are meant to circulate widely; there are no direct costs expected for individuals or businesses.

Why it matters#

• The coins mark a national milestone — the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada — and are a way to raise public awareness of the court’s history.
• They will function as normal one-dollar circulation coins, so they don’t change how Canadians pay or receive change.
• Because commemorative coins are often collected and removed from circulation, some designs become items of interest to collectors and the public.
• The design includes a security mark and official effigy, which help authenticity and recognition in daily use.