World Coin BookWorld coin encyclopedia

Elizabeth II reign and portrait era

Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1990–2003)

This page applies the requested 1990–2003 Elizabeth II browse lens to the reviewed twenty-five cents design, technical-standard, and annual-production evidence.

Scope is limited to the verified type or program level. Issue mintages, prices, varieties, and survival estimates are not inferred from this summary.

Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1990–2003) obverseElizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1990–2003) reverse
Representative 2003 obverse/reverse catalog pair for Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1990–2003); an identification aid, not a grading photograph. Coins and Canada / Numicanada; catalog cleanup by World Coin Book
1Design generations
14Annual rows
2Technical standards
3Cited sources

Twenty-five cents reign and portrait eras

Victoria Twenty-Five Cents (1870–1901) · 1870–1901Edward VII Twenty-Five Cents (1902–1910) · 1902–1910George V Twenty-Five Cents (1911–1921) · 1911–1921George V Twenty-Five Cents (1922–1936) · 1922–1936George VI Twenty-Five Cents (1937–1952) · 1937–1952Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1953–1964) · 1953–1964Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1965–1989) · 1965–1989Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1990–2003) · 1990–2003Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (2003–2023) · 2003–2023Charles III Twenty-Five Cents (2023–2026) · 2023–2026

Know the boundary before the date

Begin with the recorded obverse (Elizabeth II effigy (Dora de Pédery-Hunt portrait)) and reverse (Caribou head above the denomination). Then compare date, denomination, portrait, edge, diameter, weight, composition, and finish; a colour change or worn detail alone is not a reliable attribution.

  • Primary identifiers — Reverse: Caribou head above the denomination. Obverse: Elizabeth II effigy (Dora de Pédery-Hunt portrait).
  • Authority and dates — Canada; recorded range 1990–2003.
  • Evidence boundary — Unknown specifications remain unknown; unverified varieties, mintages, and prices stay outside the public catalog.

The historical scope of Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1990–2003)

The cited sources place this category under Canada and within the chronology shown here. Where a label crosses designs, authorities, metals, or portrait transitions, the page keeps those distinctions visible instead of merging them into one invented type.

The catalog places this record in the Twenty-five cents branch, records its material scope as silver, nickel, and plated-steel generations, and records its finish as circulation. Those fields are supported by the sources listed below; missing issue-level transitions are not filled by inference.

  1. 1992 · Canada 125 — A national contest produced provincial and territorial reverses.
  2. 1999–2000 · Millennium collections — Two twelve-coin circulation series carried monthly and aspirational themes.
  3. 2000 · Plated-steel standard — The quarter entered its current plated-steel technical generation.

Design and identification

Begin with the recorded obverse (Elizabeth II effigy (Dora de Pédery-Hunt portrait)) and reverse (Caribou head above the denomination). Then compare date, denomination, portrait, edge, diameter, weight, composition, and finish; a colour change or worn detail alone is not a reliable attribution.

  • Caribou Twenty-Five Cents · 1937–present · Emanuel Hahn — Caribou head above the denomination. Caribou quarter family.

Finish by checking the edge (reeded), composition (silver, nickel, and plated-steel generations), and any recorded dimensions or weight; colour or wear alone is not enough for attribution.

Official annual production

Annual rows are denomination totals filtered to this requested era. They may combine portraits, commemorative reverses, or parallel formats and are not presented as portrait-only production.

Displayed-row sum: 1,479,210,996 · 14 official annual rows

Three anchors that do not depend on price

  • 1990–2003 — The verified range assigned to Elizabeth II Twenty-Five Cents (1990–2003) in this catalog.
  • Caribou head above the denomination — The principal reverse is the first type-level attribution check.
  • silver, nickel, and plated-steel generations — Compare it with the reeded edge and any recorded measurements.

Specifications within this type

1978 – 1999 · Round

Composition
99.9% nickel
Weight
5.05 g
Diameter
23.88 mm
Thickness
1.58 mm

2000 – present · Round

Composition
94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating
Weight
4.4 g
Diameter
23.88 mm
Thickness
1.58 mm

Official annual production catalog

Annual rows are denomination totals filtered to this requested era. They may combine portraits, commemorative reverses, or parallel formats and are not presented as portrait-only production.

YearDesign contextTechnical standardMintage
1990Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g31,258,000
1991Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g459,000
1992Canada 125 provincial and territorial series23.88 mm · 5.05 g153,000,000
1993Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g73,758,000
1994Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g77,670,000
1995Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g89,210,000
1996Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g28,216,000
1997Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g0
1998Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 5.05 g0
1999Millennium Collection23.88 mm · 5.05 g258,888,996
2000Millennium Collection23.88 mm · 4.4 g415,894,000
2001Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 4.4 g62,227,000
2002Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 4.4 g187,992,000
2003Caribou quarter family23.88 mm · 4.4 g100,638,000

Collecting paths and checklist

Use the page first as a type or era checklist, then verify each dated issue independently before extending the set. Cleaned surfaces, plated-metal disturbance, patterns, special finishes, and commemorative reverses require separate treatment; catalog context is not an appraisal or investment promise.

  • One-coin type study — Choose one representative that clearly shows the principal obverse and reverse, then learn the type boundary.
  • Design and technical generations — Add a generation only when sources confirm a change in composition, shape, size, edge, or principal design.
  • Source-backed date study — Expand into dates or varieties only after issue identity, specifications, and production evidence are verified field by field.

Collector checklist

  • Do not clean the coin; cleaning changes surfaces and can obscure evidence.
  • Compare date, portrait, design, edge, weight, diameter, and metal response together.
  • Have consequential or high-value attributions reviewed by an appropriate specialist or certification service.
  • Catalog information is research context, not an appraisal, offer, or investment guarantee.

Data scope

This page publishes reviewed denomination- and major-type-level evidence. Years not published by the Mint remain unknown, zero appears only when the source reports zero, and prices or survivor estimates are not inferred from production.

Sources

  1. 25 centsRoyal Canadian Mint

    Quarter design history and major commemorative circulation programs.

  2. A History of the Canadian DollarBank of Canada

    Decimal adoption, 1858 coinage, 1870 Dominion coinage, provincial issues, Newfoundland, and mint history.

  3. Faces of the MonarchRoyal Canadian Mint

    Canadian coin obverse portrait chronology through Charles III.