Obverse: portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in the centre of the obverse. This version of the portrait shows the Queen at the age of 37, wearing a tiara. Her title 'ELIZABETH II D-G-REGINA' is embossed at the top.
Reverse: the reverse shows the ship 'John Davis' in the centre of the reverse with a rock in the background. The phrase 'DÉTROIT DE DAVIS STRAIT' is embossed at the top and the year '1587-1987' and the denomination 'CANADA DOLLAR' are underneath the ship.
About the coin: It is a $1 silver coin issued in Canada in 1987 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Davis Strait. The coin was designed by Arnold Machin and V. Côté.