How to Identify the 1936 Voyageur Silver Dollar

What Is This Coin?

This coin continues the Voyageur silver dollar design introduced in 1935, struck during George V's final year on the throne (he died in January 1936). It also gave rise to one of Canada's most celebrated rarities, the "1936 dot" dollar, discussed below. The standard 1936 issue is otherwise a straightforward continuation of the series and is generally comparable in availability to the 1935 dollar that preceded it.

Obverse Design

The obverse repeats the mature George V portrait used the previous year, facing left, with "GEORGIVS V DEI GRA REX ET IND IMP" around the bust. There is no visible change from the 1935 obverse design.

Reverse Design

The reverse shows the same Voyageur and Indigenous guide canoe scene by Emanuel Hahn, with "CANADA" and "1936" around the design. On the rare "dot" variety, a small raised dot appears below the date on the reverse, marking coins that were actually struck in 1937 using leftover 1936 dies while new George VI dies were being prepared.

Size, Weight & Metal

Specifications match the 1935 issue: .800 fine silver, about 23.33 grams, 36 mm diameter, with a reeded edge.

Mint Marks & Where to Find Them

No conventional mint mark exists, but the small dot below the date on certain 1936-dated dollars functions as a special identifying mark for this famous variety, positioned just beneath the "6" in the date. Because the dot is tiny and easily worn away or obscured by dirt, a clean coin and good magnification are essential before drawing any conclusions.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

Because the standard 1936 design matches 1935 so closely, the date is the main differentiator between those two years. Separately, checking carefully for the small dot beneath the date distinguishes the ordinary 1936 dollar from the celebrated dot variety, which is exceptionally scarce and requires close, magnified examination to confirm. It should also not be confused with later commemorative-themed dollars, since the plain Voyageur canoe scene without any special anniversary dates identifies it as a regular-issue coin rather than a commemorative.

Judging Condition at a Glance

As with the 1935 issue, look at the paddler's shoulders, the canoe's gunwale, and George V's hair for wear. Full, crisp water ripple detail and sharply defined figures indicate a higher-grade coin, while smoothed, flat surfaces point to significant circulation. Retained luster in the fields around "CANADA" and the date is also a useful sign of a lightly circulated or uncirculated example.

Authenticity Red Flags

Given the fame and value of the dot variety, be especially cautious of coins with an added or fabricated dot beneath the date — genuine dots have a specific size, shape, and position that specialists check closely, and professional authentication is strongly recommended before assuming a coin is a genuine dot variety. For standard 1936 dollars, the same casting and weight red flags apply as with other silver dollars of this design. Never assume a dot is genuine based on a photograph alone; in-hand examination under magnification, ideally by a specialist, is the only reliable way to confirm this variety.