Believe it or not, the Canadian quarter is nearly as old as Canada itself! The 25-cent quarter was first issued back in 1870 by the Royal Canadian Mint, approximately three years after Canada was established as a self-governing entity.
Back then, the quarter didn’t quite look like the one we’ve come to know today with the caribou design. Instead, it had the crossed maple boughs, which were also found on the 10-cent and 50-cent coins at the time.
It won’t come as a shock to you that there is quite a bit of history that is related to the Canadian quarter. Over the years, it has had many different variations, designs, and technical specifications that we will go through in today’s post.
We’ll also talk about rolls, how many coins fit into one, how much they cost, and where you can deposit or buy them.
Alright, let’s get into it!
How many quarters are in a roll in Canada?
There are 40 quarters in a single roll of quarters worth $0.25 each, with a total value of $10 Canadian Dollars (CAD). Rolls of quarters are usually wrapped in plastic or paper coin wrappers, with most paper ones having the colour orange incorporated into them for easy distinction.
Features of the Canadian quarter
Like all other Canadian coins, the front or “heads” side of the quarter has had the sovereign’s image on it since it was first put into circulation.
The reverse side, on the other hand, had the crossed maple boughs on it at first (as did the 10-cent and 50-cent coins at the time) and adopted the familiar caribou, designed by Emanuel Hahn, in 1937.
Ever since then, the quarter has had a caribou on its reverse side except for on unique occasions and during the releases of special collections.
For instance, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian confederation, the quarter took on a bobcat designed by Alex Colville. In 1992, for the 125th Anniversary of Confederation, there was a special quarter released to represent each province and territory in Canada.
There have also been special editions for the onset of the millennium, Canada Day in 2002 and Ile Sainte-Croix in 2004.
Honestly, my personal favourite edition of the quarter is the red poppy coin that was released in 2004. Believe it or not, it was the world’s first coloured coin in circulation!
In terms of technical specifications of the quarter, here is a quick run-down:
Composition: 94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating
Weight: 4.4 grams
Thickness: 1.58 millimeter
Diameter: 23.88 millimeters
Note: these dimensions have been consistent for the Canadian quarter since the year 2000.
Is a Roll of Quarters $10?
Yes, a roll of quarters is worth CAD $10. There are 40 quarters in one roll, each worth 25 cents each..
Canadian Coin Rolls – All Coins Currently Under Circulation
Here is a table of all coin rolls in Canada. You may know that Canada stopped minting pennies in 2012. Although they are slowly being phased out of circulation, they are still legal tender, and you should consider rolling up your loose pennies to deposit into your bank as soon as possible.
If you’re in search of coin rollers, you can buy some at the dollar store or get them for free at your bank.
| Coin/Denomination | Coins per Roll | Cost of Roll | Diameter Of the Coin (mm) | Thickness Of the Coin (mm) |
| Loonie ($1) | 25 | $25 | 26.5 | 1.95 |
| Toonie ($2) | 25 | $50 | 28 | 1.75 |
| Five Cent/Nickel ($0.05) | 40 | $2 | 21.2 | 1.76 |
| Ten Cent/Dime ($0.1) | 50 | $5 | 18 | 1.22 |
| 25 Cent/Quarter ($0.25) | 40 | $10 | 23.88 | 1.58 |
| 1 cent/Penny | 50 | $0.50 | 19.05 | 1.45 |
How many rolls are 500 quarters?
Since a single roll of quarters can contain a maximum of 40 quarters, 500 quarters will result in 12 rolls with 20 loose quarters remaining (12.5 rolls). Do note that there is no such thing as half of a roll, so you will need 20 more quarters to make up 13 whole rolls (520 quarters total).
500 quarters is worth $125 (again, 12.5 rolls), and completing it up to 13 rolls would amount to $130 at $10 per roll.
What is a roll of quarters called?
There is no official name for a roll of quarters. Rather than simply calling it “a roll of quarters,” you can also opt for “$10 worth of quarters” or “40 quarters”.
In fact, there is no official name for any roll of coins in Canada, but this can be your chance to get creative and make up a name of your own!
Collecting special quarters in Canada
Since cash is being used less and less in day-to-day life, especially recently with the onset of the pandemic, it’s becoming harder to come across cool or special coins.
Almost 7-8 years ago now, I remember getting a red poppy quarter as change when I was out and about in Vancouver. Sadly I haven’t seen one in real life in years.
Luckily, The Royal Canadian Mint has hundreds of special products on sale on its website. The red poppy coin may only be obtained as a chance nowadays, but you can buy other special coins on there, instead.
If you like coloured coins, check out this 1 oz. pure silver coin with a beautiful blue jay bird on it.
I also really like this coin, worth $50 (yes, a single coin worth $50!), with a heightened relief of the Canadian Rockies and a bright blue rendition of Alberta’s Lake Louise. I never knew a coin could make me feel so nostalgic about Canada!
Most of these coins are special editions and are made available in small quantities. If you’re interested in collecting coins, consider checking the website regularly!
Buying and selling coins in Canada
One of the worst parts of using cash in day-to-day purchases is the heavy coins that end up accumulating in your wallet. In fact, I’m sure we’ve all asked a cashier to give us a banknote in exchange for our heavy coins at some point.
However, I would say that the best place to deposit your accumulated coins is your bank. You can deposit your coin pile directly into your bank account instead of lugging it around to make purchases or trying to find a cashier who is nice enough to change it for you.
Most banks prefer that you deposit coins not loosely but in rolls. They usually give out free paper rollers to incentivize this (I’m sure the people in the queue behind you would also appreciate it if you don’t take 15 minutes counting your quarters at the wicket!).
Likewise, you can also go to your bank branch to withdraw cash in the form of coins from your account. You can do this in whatever denominations fit your needs and use them for things such as laundry or parking.
Speaking of accumulating coins, an effective (and, I’ll admit, old school) way of saving money can be using some variation of a piggy bank. When your wallet or pockets get heavy with coins, deposit them into a box at home.
Over time, you can save enough to make a purchase, buy gold, or invest in stocks, bonds, or guaranteed investment certificates (term deposits). This can also be a fun family activity and a nice way to teach children about the importance of saving money, being patient, and planning for the future.
Conclusion
There are 40 quarters in a single roll of quarters with a total value of 10 Canadian Dollars (CAD). Quarters are usually rolled into orange paper wrappers or plastic cases. You can deposit or withdraw rolls of quarters at your bank or credit union.
Don’t forget, putting your coins aside in a box or piggy bank can be an effective way of saving money for future purchases, investments, or family outings. If you’re interested, I also talk about other ways to save money here on my website.
Here’s a master list of how many coins are in a roll for the nickel, dime, quarter, loonie and toonie.
