1 Dollar - Elizabeth II New Size Trial Strike

In 1968, Canada abandoned the large silver dollar for a reduced-size circulation piece, a change driven primarily by the rising price of silver that had already forced the removal of silver from dimes and quarters the same year. Before committing to final specifications, the Royal Canadian Mint produced trial strikes in various compositions and sizes to evaluate production feasibility and vending machine compatibility. This copper example represents that evaluation process — not a coin intended for public release, but an internal working piece used to test dies and machinery against the new parameters.