10 Dollars Montréal Olympics, World Map

One of 28 silver issues released across four series between 1973 and 1976 to fund the Montréal Games, this $10 denomination was part of the largest Olympic coin program undertaken to a that point. The Canadian government authorized the program specifically because construction costs for the Games had spiraled catastrophically — Montréal's mayor Jean Drapeau had famously declared the Olympics "could no more have a deficit than a man could have a baby," a quote that aged poorly as costs ballooned to nearly $1.5 billion CAD.

The $5 and $10 silver pairings were sold in sets, with each series tied to a theme. Series sales were strong early but tapered as collector fatigue set in by the fourth release.