Loonie Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Loonie is the unofficial but commonly-used name for Canada's gold-coloured, bronze-plated, one-dollar coin. It bears an image of a common loon, Canada's national bird, on the reverse and of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. The name was a tongue-in-cheek reference not only to the bird but also to the unpopular or "looney changeover from a paper dollar to a coin in 1987.
The design for the coin was meant to be a voyageur theme, similar to the country's previous one dollar/silver dollar coin, but the dies were lost in transit to the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg. In order to avoid counterfeiting problems a different design was used. The coin was released to the public on 30 June 1987.
It was unpopular until the government withdrew the one-dollar bill from circulation. As the switch occurred when Brian Mulroney (which rhymes with "loonie") was Prime Minister; hence the coin was in its early years sometimes called "Mulroney's loonie," but this term has largely died out.
The coin has become the symbol of its currency, and as such, Loonie (huard in French) is a slang term for the Canadian dollar in general.
On occasion the coin has shown other images, for instance the War Memorial to commemorate VE day, it is still however referred to as a loonie.
The coin is made of bronze-electroplated nickel. The total composition of the coin is 91.5% nickel and 8.5% bronze; The bronze is about 88% copper and 12% tin.
See also
External links
Loonie (short for lunatic) is an inclusive term used by residents of the lunar colony in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein.
This is an Article on Loonie. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Loonie