Robert-Ralph Carmichael, the man who created the design for Canada's symbolic one-dollar coin, has died at the age of 78.

"Mr. Carmichael's loonie design has stood the test of time due to its simplicity in depicting an icon of Canadian wildlife," said a statement issued by the Royal Canadian Mint on Monday. Carmichael died on Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

The Canadian one dollar coin is a gold-colored coin introduced in 1987 to replace one-dollar bill. It is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint at its facility in Winnipeg.

The one-dollar coin came to be popularly known as the loonie because of Carmichael's iconic design which bears images of a solitary loon, a bird which is common and well known in Canada, on the reverse, and of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.

"The introduction of the one-dollar coin in 1987 was the most significant change to Canada's coinage system in over 50 years. We thank him for his remarkable contribution in creating what has become a true Canadian symbol," said the statement.

Figures from the mint show that well over a billion loonie coins have been produced since 1987. Carmichael's initials appear near the bird's beak.

A monument to Carmichael's most famous work - a giant version of his loonie - was erected in his longtime home of Echo Bay, Ontario, in 1992.

While the loonie was Carmichael's best known numismatic work, he designed more than a dozen other coins for the mint, including several gold and commemorative coins.

Carmichael was a successful artist who showed his drawings and paintings in dozens of group and solo exhibitions across Canada. His work is featured in the permanent collections of many art galleries and in many private collections.

"The major theme in my work is the human condition - our relationship to the environment - our relationship to each other," he said in his artist's statement for the Centre for Canadian Contemporary Art.

Carmichael is survived by his wife, Gwen Keatley. Endit

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