are all canadian silver dollars made of silver

[VanAddyson]

That's a great question, and it's a common point of confusion! The short answer is no, not all Canadian dollar coins are made of silver. It really depends on the year the coin was minted.

For the circulating dollar coins, often called "Voyageur" dollars, those minted from 1935 through 1966 are made of 80% silver. In 1967, the silver content for these circulating dollars was reduced to 50%. Then, starting in 1968, Canada switched to using nickel for its circulating dollar coins, so they no longer contained any silver.

To add another layer, after 1971, Canada began issuing commemorative silver dollars specifically for the collector market. These coins were not intended for general circulation but are still legal tender. The silver content in these collector coins can vary, often being 50% or even 92.5% (sterling) silver.

So, while Canada has a rich history of minting beautiful silver dollars, a coin's year of issue is the key to knowing whether it actually contains silver.