Moving anywhere, let alone to a new country, requires extensive planning and adjusting to a new setting. There are a lot of preparations to consider when like brushing up on English lessons (or French if you’re moving to Quebec) and shopping for warm winter clothes. But one of the biggest changes you’ll face when moving to Canada is exchanging your familiar bills and coins with a brand-new currency—the Canadian dollar. Learn more about Canadian currency, what it looks like, and how to exchange your currency to it.
What do Canadian coins look like?
There are five coins that are regularly used in Canada—loonies, toonies, quarters, dimes, and nickels. Every Canadian coin has a picture of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side. You may occasionally find pennies, which are copper coins with two maple leaves on them, and 50-cent coins, which are silver-coloured coins that feature the Canadian Coat of Arms. These coins are not as common because the Canadian Government is currently in the process of phasing out the use of pennies, and the 50-cent coin is infrequently used.
The loonie is a gold-coloured coin that is worth one Canadian dollar. It has picture of a loon, which is Canada’s national bird. The coin with the highest value is the toonie, which is worth two Canadian dollars. Toonies are distinct two-toned coins that have a picture of a polar bear on one side.
The other three coins are worth cents, which are smaller amounts than dollars. These coins have unique designs on them, too. Quarters are worth twenty-five cents, or a quarter of a dollar, and come with a picture of a caribou. Dimes are worth ten cents and depict a picture of The Bluenose, which is a famous Canadian sailboat. Nickels are worth five cents and feature a picture of a beaver.
What do Canadian paper bills look like?
The five Canadian paper bills are worth five dollars, 10 dollars, 20 dollars, 50 dollars, and 100 dollars. Each type of bill is its own vibrant colour and features a portrait of a prominent Canadian leader on the obverse side. The Canadian Government usually changes the pictures on the bills every 10 years. Descriptions of the current bills are listed below:
- Five-dollar bills are blue and depict a picture of Wilfrid Laurier, who was the first French-Canadian prime minister in Canada’s history.
- 10-dollar bills are purple and feature a portrait of Canada’s first prime minister, John A. MacDonald.
- 20-dollar bills are green and have a picture of Queen Elizabeth II, who was Canada’s monarch until her passing in 2022. King Charles III’s face is expected to replace her portrait on the 20-dollar bills and coins in coming years.
- 50-dollar bills are red and feature William Lyon Mackenzie King, who served as the prime minister of Canada during World War II.
- 100-dollar bills are brown and feature a portrait of Robert Borden, who was the prime minister of Canada during World War I.
Canadians love their maple leaves! The iconic maple leaf is not just adorned on the country’s flag—it’s also included on several dollar coins and bills.
How strong is the Canadian dollar?
The Canadian dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world. Out of all the currencies, the Canadian dollar ranks as the 11th strongest currency, just under the US Dollar.[1] Because of the strength of Canadian dollars, you’ll find that making money exchanges in most countries will benefit you.
If you’re traveling from Canada, the most cost-effective way to use your money abroad is to transfer it ahead of time. Sending your money internationally will allow you to receive your money in the currency of the country you’re traveling to, so you don’t have to worry about calculating exchange rates and dealing with international credit card fees.
Make international transfers with Western Union
Send your Canadian dollars internationally with Western Union
Sending your Canadian dollars abroad is easy and only takes a few minutes. Western Union gives you the option to send and receive your money online or in person with a local agent. Visit the Western Union homepage or download the free Western Union app to make a quick transfer today.
