There are six major kinds of Canadian coins currently in circulation. The one cent coin features a maple leaf on the reverse. Sometimes, these one cent coins find their way into United States circulation, since they so closely resemble the American one cent, the penny. The five cent Canadian coin features a beaver on the reverse. Beavers are common throughout the Canadian territories, particularly in the wooded Northwest.

10 cent Canadian coins feature a picture of a sailboat called the Bluenose, which played a critical role in Canada's early history. As a result of this boat's depiction, some Canadians refer to 10 cent pieces as 'Bluenoses' colloquially. The 25 cent Canadian coin depicts the caribou, a common deer which roams far into Canada's most northern territories.

The one dollar piece is gold in luster and depicts the now extinct bird, the loon. The two dollar piece draws inspiration from one of the most iconic figures of Canada, the polar bear. It is both gold and silver in luster. Some Canadian coins reflect a distinctly British influence. 20th-century coins pay homage to the English Queen Victoria, for example.

In addition to these commonly circulated Canadian coins, you can find a host of earlier minted collectibles. A burgeoning Canadian numismatic movement has emerged online. Collectors should be wary of mail-order offers, however, particularly if rare coins are being sold. Given that metal coins were minted more sparingly in Canada than they were in the United States during the 19th century, Canadian coin collecting is a true adventure in rarity seeking.