Included in this lot is a collection of 1965 & 1966 Canadian, “Voyageur” silver dollars. The 1965 and 1966 Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Dollars inspire much enjoyment and challenge for series enthusiasts and variety collectors. These mid-1960s silver dollars carry some of the earliest numismatic portraits of Queen Elizabeth II donning her extravagantly bejeweled tiara, updating the original portrait of the newly coroneted young queen that debuted on Canadian coinage in 1953. But they also depict something else of numismatic note: ornamental beads in a variety of sizes. These beads, seen on the periphery of the obverse design along the rim, serve a purely decorative purpose and are not integral to the portrait of the queen. However, many collectors of Canadian Dollars are bedazzled by the varieties arising from these beads. Making these mid-1960s Canadian Dollars even more fascinating and complex to collect, the various bead styles are also combined with variations in the shaping of the numeral “5” of the coin’s date on the reverse. All told, combining business strikes and proof like strikes, there are at least a dozen distinct varieties among the 1965 and 1966 Canadian Dollars. Technical flaws cropped up when striking began for the new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Mary Gillick. Originally, the 1965 Queen Elizabeth II Dollars were struck bearing the Small Beads variety. However, this motif, featuring a flat field, proved to be harsh on the dies and led to a short die life. Adjustments were made, making the field more concave and upward sloping toward the rim and resulting in the Medium Beads variety. Finally, Royal Canadian Mint officials fine-tuned the obverse, further sharpening the dished concavity of the fields and increasing the size of the beads, producing the Large Beads variety. Along with these changes, which are seen on both the 1965 and 1966 dollars, there were also refinements to the shaping of the “5” on the 1965 dollars. Some of these coins bear a “5” with a bluntly edged tail; others showcase a pointed tail on the “5.” The “Blunt 5” is known among only the Small Beads and Large Beads varieties. The two 1965 struck silver dollars show the small bead variety and the “Blunt 5” striking. The three 1966 struck silver dollars also show a small bead stamping. All five coins show a nice patina, evident of their 60 year life. The coins measure 36 mm in diameter and 2.8 mm in thickness.