The loonie turns 30 today; special edition sets being released
TORONTO — Canada isn’t the only one celebrating a big birthday — one of its most commonly used symbols is, too.
The Royal Canadian Mint says the loonie is officially now 30 years old.
The 11-sided coin was first released June 30, 1987 as a cost-saving replacement for the one-dollar bill.
The mint says the one-dollar coin was not originally called the loonie, but the name caught on quickly thanks to the design by Robert Ralph Carmichael depicting a single loon on one side.