It is worth 1 Canadian Dollar
(it isn't gold, it is bronze plated nickel)
According to current exchange rates (December 2, 2009) 1 Canadian dollar is worth:
0.63 Euros
or
0.95 US dollars
About the face value, despise looking like gold it's a bronze/aluminum coin.
$1.25
the queen was on the Canadian one dollar bill witch ceased circulation in 1989 after the successful implementation of the Canadian Loonie in 1987.
1981 is after our dollar coins were made out of silver. So there is no precious metal value in anything after 1967. When I am at shows I actually give these out to kids as gifts in replace of change if they buy a coin. If it is in a high grade then it will be worth more, but as a rule of thumb, your coin is worth 1.50
The Canadian one dollar bill was phased out by the Canadian National Government in the year 1987. They were phased out in July of that year. They have not been used since then.
It was worth 1 dollar, but gas was less than $1 per gallon
That depends on the date, as Queen Elizabeth II has been on every Canadian dollar since 1953. Any dollars through 1967 are silver and are currently worth at least $15 or so. Then 1968-86, they were pure nickel, and are still worth a dollar (maybe $2 in better condition). In 1987, it switched to the small golden dollar, nicknamed the "loonie." Those are all worth one dollar each (except for the 1997, which was only sold in mint sets and has a small premium).
The modern "loonie" dollar was introduced in 1987.
You did not give a denomination or condition. Assuming the coin is from circulation, it would be worth its face value times whatever the current U.S / Canadian exchange rate is - maybe around 0.85 U.S. cents to the Canadian dollar. For example a Canadian quarter would be worth 0.85 x 25 cents or about 21 U.S. cents.
25 cents
The first Canadian silver dollar was issued in 1935. It was issued by the Royal Canadian Mint to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V. The voyager design used for the coin was used on the dollar until 1986 and then was replaced with a Loon in 1987 giving the modern day dollar coin the nickname Loonie.
If it's a modern $1 coin (1987 or later) and the same size as a US $1 coin, it's a common circulation piece worth only face value. It's made of brass-plated nickel, not gold.
$20 to $56 depending upon the condition of the coin.