What is a Canadian coin made of?

Modern Canadian coins are made largely from multi-ply plated steel, with trace amounts of copper and nickel added. Coins dated before 1901 contain large amounts of precious metals like silver or gold, along with trace elements of zinc and tin.

Between 1987 and 2001, Canadian mints produced a dollar coin called the "Loonie." It was made from nickel, with a bronze plating to give the coin its color. In more recent years, the same coin is made of steel and coated with brass. By the same token, Canada's two-dollar coin called the "Twoonie" formerly bore a unique outer ring of nickel surrounding a copper inner core. In 2014, "Twoonie" is a steel and aluminum-bronze replica.