50 cents
From Sea to Sea – the 50-cent Coin
The 50-cent coin bears the Canadian Coat of Arms, given to Canada by King George V via Royal Proclamation in 1921. The Arms feature the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and France with a sprig of three maples leaves. The inscription, "A Mari usque ad Mare," means "from sea to sea," while the second inscription, "Desiderantes meliorem patriam," means "they desire a better country” and is the motto of the Order of Canada. The current design was produced by former Royal Canadian Mint engraver Thomas Shingles and was first used in 1959.
Although it is infrequently used for trade and commerce, the coin remains popular with coin collectors and the Mint strikes a few thousand 50-cent coins every year.

