George V Twenty-Five Cents (silver)

The George V twenty-five-cent piece covers a substantial span of early 20th-century Canadian coinage, running from 1911 through 1936. While most dates in the series are readily collectible, it is anchored by one of Canada's most famous key dates, the 1921 quarter, whose story of near-total destruction has made it a legendary rarity.

Collectors pursuing this series often treat it as a two-tier challenge: an accessible common-date run punctuated by one extraordinarily difficult and expensive date.

Twenty-five-cent coinage continued under King George V beginning with coins dated 1911, struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. As with the five- and ten-cent pieces of the era, the coin's silver fineness was reduced in 1920 from the earlier sterling standard in response to rising silver prices.

The 1921 twenty-five-cent piece became one of Canada's greatest numismatic rarities under unusual circumstances: after that year's mintage, the mint reportedly melted down a large portion of unreleased or returned twenty-five-cent coins in later years as part of routine bullion management, leaving only a comparatively small fraction of the original mintage in existence today. This has given the 1921 quarter a reputation and rarity status comparable to the famous 1921 five-cent piece from the same year.

The series also includes a rare 1936 dot variety, struck in early 1937 using leftover 1936 dies during the brief gap created by Edward VIII's abdication, though this variety is considerably less scarce than the 1921 date.

The obverse shows King George V crowned and facing left, with the legend GEORGIVS V DEI GRA REX ET IND IMP. The reverse displays 25 CENTS within a wreath, with the date below, continuing the general Canadian silver coin format of the era.

The coin's silver fineness shifted partway through the series, from the earlier sterling standard to a lower fineness starting in 1920, though this is not visually distinguishable without testing. No mint mark is used, as production was centralized at the Ottawa mint.

Given its extraordinary value, a coin claimed to be a genuine 1921 twenty-five-cent piece should always be verified through professional certification, as its rarity has made it a frequent target for date alteration from more common years.

Most dates in this series, aside from 1921, are common and affordable in circulated grades, forming an accessible run for date collectors. The 1921 date, however, stands apart as one of the most valuable regular-issue 20th-century Canadian coins, with genuine examples commanding substantial prices even in low grades and considerably more in higher grades, reflecting its very limited surviving population.

The 1936 dot variety, while far more available than the 1921 date, is still notably scarcer and more valuable than an ordinary 1936 quarter, giving the series a second, more moderate rarity for collectors to pursue.