Nickel (Canadian coin)

Last updated

Nickel
Canada
Value0.05 CAD
Mass3.95 g
Diameter21.2 mm
Thickness1.76 mm
Edgesmooth (plain)
CompositionNickel-plated steel
94.5% steel,
3.5% Cu,
2% Ni plating
Years of minting1858–present
Catalog number–
Obverse
Canadian Nickel - obverse.png
Design Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada
Designer Susanna Blunt
Design date2003
Design discontinued2023
Design Charles III, King of Canada
DesignerSteven Rosati
Design date2023
Reverse
Canadian Nickel - reverse.png
Design Beaver sitting on a rock
Designer G.E. Kruger Gray
Design date1937

The Canadian five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a coin worth five cents or one-twentieth of a Canadian dollar. It was patterned on the corresponding coin in the neighbouring United States. It became the smallest-valued coin in the currency upon the discontinuation of the penny in 2013.

Contents

History

The "Victory nickel", struck from 1943 to 1945, was the first non-standard circulating Canadian coin other than commemorative dollars; the reverse features a flaming torch and a large V that stands for both Victory and the coin's denomination. The rim denticles were replaced by the phrase "We win when we work willingly" in Morse Code. This design was re-used in 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of V-E Day. Almost uniquely in the history of Canadian coinage, the reverse was engraved to scale by Thomas Shingles; most coin designs are engraved at a much larger scale and reduced with a pantograph.

In 1951, a special commemorative five-cent piece depicting a nickel refinery was struck to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the metal's initial discovery by Swedish chemist Axel F. Cronstedt. Due to the onset of the Korean War, production of this commemorative was halted to preserve nickel for the war effort, resulting in a second non-commemorative 1951 "nickel" made of plated steel.

In 1967, all the circulating coins received a special reverse for the Canadian Centennial; the nickel featured a rabbit.

In proof sets issued since 1996, the five cent coin is made of sterling silver. Some commemorative five cent coins are also made of sterling silver.

Types and specifications

Definitive types
ImageYearsMass [1] [2] Diameter [1] [2] Composition [1] [2]
CANADA, QUEEN VICTORIA 1893 SILVER 5 CENTS COIN b - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg CANADA, QUEEN VICTORIA 1893 SILVER 5 CENT COIN a - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1858–19011.16 g15.5 mm92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
CANADA, EDWARD VII 1906 -5 CENTS a - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg CANADA, EDWARD VII 1906 -5 CENTS b - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1902–19101.16 g15.5 mm92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
CANADA, GEORGE V 1917-5 CENTS a - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg CANADA, GEORGE V 1917 -5 CENTS b - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1911–19211.17 g15.5 mm92.5% silver, 7.5% copper (1911–1919)
80% silver, 20% copper (1920–1921)
Canada $0.05 1936.jpg 1922–19364.54 g21.21 mm99.9% nickel
Canada $0.05 1937.jpg 1937–19424.54 g21.21 mm99.9% nickel
Canada $0.05 1942.jpg 1942–19454.54 g21.3 mm88% copper, 12% zinc (tombac) (1942–1943)
Chrome plated steel (1944–1945)
CANADA, FIVE CENTS 1946 -NICKEL a - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg CANADA, FIVE CENTS 1946 -NICKEL b - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1946–19524.54 g21.3 mm99.9% nickel (1946–1951)
Chrome plated steel (1951–1952)
Canada $0.05 1964.jpg 1953–19644.54 g21.3 mmChrome plated steel (1953–1954)
99.9% nickel (1955–1964)
Canada $0.05 1968.jpg 1965–19814.54 g21.3 mm99.9% nickel
Canada $0.05 1989.jpg 1982–19894.6 g21.2 mm75% copper, 25% nickel
Canada $0.05 1992.jpg 1990–2001, 2006
(No "P"
on obverse)		4.6 g21.2 mm75% copper, 25% nickel
Canada $0.05 2003.jpg 1999–2006
(With "P")		3.95 g21.2 mm94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating
Canadian Nickel - reverse.png Canadian Nickel - obverse.png 2003–2023
(With RCM logo
on obverse)		3.95 g21.2 mm94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating
2023–present3.95 g21.2 mm94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating

Circulation figures

Victoria & Edward VII

YearMintage [3] [4] Notes
18581,500,000This figure includes the small date, and large date over small date varieties.
18702,800,000This figure includes the "Flat rim" and "Wire rim" varieties.
18711,400,000Two different varieties have a 1 over 1 and 7 over 7 in the date.
1872 H2,000,000The "H" on the coin refers to "Ralph Heaton & Sons".
1874 H800,000This figure includes the "Plain 4" and "Crosslet 4" varieties.
1875 H1,000,000This figure includes the small and large date varieties.
1880 H3,000,000
1881 H1,500,000
1882 H1,000,000
1883 H600,000
1884200,000Key date, lowest mintage of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
18851,000,000This figure includes the "small 5", "large 5", and " large 5 over small 5" varieties.
18861,700,000This figure includes the "small" and "large 6" varieties.
1887500,000Includes a "7 over 7" date variety.
18881,000,000
18891,200,000
1890 H1,000,000
18911,800,000
1892860,000
18931,700,000
1894500,000No coins were minted in 1895.
18961,500,000
18971,319,283Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" 8, and a "narrow 8 over a wide 8" in the date.
1898580,717
18993,000,000
19001,800,000This figure includes the "Oval" and "Round 0's" varieties.
1901 Victoria2,000,000
1902 Edward VII2,120,000
1902 H2,200,000This figure includes the "large broad" and "small narrow" H varieties.
19031,000,000
1903 H2,640,000
19042,400,000
19052,600,000Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a 5 over 5.
19063,100,000Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 6".
19075,200,000Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 7".
19081,220,524Varieties include a "small" and "large" 8 in the date.
19091,983,725This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties.
19103,850,325This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties.

George V & George VI

World War II "Victory" nickel in Tombac Canada $0.05 1943.jpg
World War II "Victory" nickel in Tombac
World War II "Victory" nickel in Steel Canada $0.05 1945.jpg
World War II "Victory" nickel in Steel
200th anniversary of the discovery of nickel 1951 Nickel.png
200th anniversary of the discovery of nickel
YearMintage [2] Notes
19113,692,350
19125,863,170
19135,588,048
19144,202,179
19151,172,258
19162,481,675
19175,521,373
19186,052,289
19197,835,400
192010,649,851
19212,582,495Almost all of these coins were melted at the mint.
19224,763,186
19232,475,201
19243,066,658
1925200,050Key date, lowest mintage of the George V/VI eras.
1926933,577This figure includes the "near" and "far" 6 varieties.
19275,285,627
19284,588,725
19295,562,262
19303,685,991
19315,100,830
19323,198,566Varieties include a "near" and "far" 2.
19332,597,867
19343,827,303
19353,900,000
1936 George V4,400,450
1937 George VI4,593,263
19383,898,974
19395,661,123
194013,820,197
19418,681,785
1942 Nickel6,847,544
1942 Tombac3,396,234
194324,760,256 [5] Intended to stimulate the war effort. The message "We Win When We Work Willingly" is engraved in Morse code on the rim of the coin.
1944 Steel [a] 11,532,784Intended to stimulate the war effort. The message "We Win When We Work Willingly" is engraved in Morse code on the rim of the coin.
194518,893,216 [5]
19466,952,684
19477,603,724The "dot" variety is included in this figure.
1947 Maple Leaf9,595,124Obverse "IND: IMP:" aka Indiae Imperator (Emperor of India) removed.
19481,810,789
194913,736,276
195011,950,520
19514,313,410This figure includes the rare high relief and common low relief varieties.
1951 Nickel Bicentennial9,028,507 [5] 200th anniversary of the discovery of nickel. Features a nickel refinery.
195210,891,148

Elizabeth II

Canadian Centennial nickel Canada $0.05 1967.jpg
Canadian Centennial nickel
60th anniversary of the end of World War II Canada $0.05 2005.jpg
60th anniversary of the end of World War II
YearMintageNotes
195316,635,552This figure includes the "strap", "no strap", and "near"/"far" leaf varieties.
19546,998,662
19555,355,028
19569,399,854
19577,387,703
19587,607,521
195911,552,523
196037,157,433
196147,889,051
196246,307,305
196343,970,320
196478,075,068
196584,876,018This figure includes the "small" and "large" beads varieties.
196627,976,648
196736,876,574 [5] Canadian Centennial; this nickel features a hopping rabbit and is dated 1867–1967.
196899,253,330
196927,830,229
19705,726,010
197127,312,609
197262,417,387
197353,507,435
197494,704,645
1975138,882,000
197655,140,213
197789,120,791This figure includes the "high" and "low" 7 varieties.
1978137,079,273
1979186,295,825
1980134,878,000
198199,107,900
1982105,539,898 Cupronickel alloy
198372,596,000
198484,088,000
1985126,618,000
1986156,104,000
1987106,299,000
198875,025,000
1989141,435,538
199042,537,000
199110,931,000
199253,732,000125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada; this nickel is dated 1867–1992.
199386,877,000
199499,352,000
199578,780,000
199636,686,000This figure includes the "near" and "far" 6 varieties.
199727,354,000
1998156,873,000
1999124,861,000About 20,000 coins were minted with a "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse.
2000108,514,000
2000 P2,300,000The "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse refers to the nickel plated steel alloy.
200130,035,000
2001 P136,650,000The "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse refers to the nickel plated steel alloy.
2002 P135,960,000Elizabeth II Golden Jubliee; dated 1952–2002
200361,392,180 [6]
2003 P31,388,921 [6] The "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse refers to the nickel plated steel alloy.
2004 P123,925,000
2005 P148,082,000
2005 P WWII ANV59,269,192 [7] 60th anniversary of the end of World War II; this nickel is dated 1945–2005.
200643,008,000
2006 P184,874,000
2007221,472,000
2008278,530,000
2009266,448,000
2010126,800,000
2011230,328,000
2012202,944,000
201378,120,000
201466,364,000
201587,360,000
2016140,952,000
2017126,680,000
2017 150th Anv20,000,000 [8] 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada; this nickel is dated 1867–2017.
201887,528,000
201992,736,000
202031,752,000
202168,376,000 [9]
202283,328,000

Charles III

YearMintageNotes
202328,422,000First year of issue with a bust of Charles III facing left as per custom
2024TBA

Commemoratives

DateMintageReason
1998
25,000
90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint (matte finish)
1998
25,000
90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint (mirror finish)
2001
59,573
 Sesquicentennial of Canada's first postage stamp
2001
25,834
125th anniversary of the Royal Military College
2002
22,646
85th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (World War I)
2003
33,490
Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee)
2004
20,019
60th anniversary of D-Day [b]
2005
42,792
60th anniversary of the end of World War II; this nickel is dated 1945–2005. [c]
2010
4,996
75th anniversary of Canada's Voyageur Silver Dollar
2011
6,000
100th anniversary of George V on Canadian coins
2017
8,017
150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (Centennial rabbit; 2017 version)
2017
20,000
150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (our home and native land)
2017
5,500
150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (the forgotten 1927 designs)
2020
15,000
75th anniversary of VE-Day [d]
2023
952,000
Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee)

Collecting

According to author Allen G. Berman, Canadian nickels struck in pure nickel are "very difficult to grade" due to the alloy's hardness. [10] Five-cent coins dated 1921 are among the rarest and most collectible Canadian circulation coins, known as "the Prince of Canadian Coins." Estimates of the number of specimens known range between 400 and 480. In May 1921, the government of Canada passed an act authorizing the change to the larger nickel coin, and subsequently the majority of the 1921 mint run was melted down. [11] The coin believed to be the finest-known specimen (PCGS MS-67) sold for US$115,000 at auction in January 2010. [12] It was then sold by the Canadian Numismatic Company for $160,000 to a private collector in early 2012.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ One "1944" dated coin is known to have survived in Tombac.
  2. ↑ A circulating version of this coin celebrating the end of World War II later appeared in 2005.
  3. ↑ This nickel came in a set, was struck in silver, and features George VI on the obverse with the original Morse code edge. 6,065 of these coins were also struck in gold-plating.
  4. ↑ This coin is identical to its D-Day 60th anniversary counterpart, but is dated 1945–2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Industrious, enduring–the 5-cent coin". mint.ca. Royal Canadian Mint. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "5 cents". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  3. ↑ Cuhaj, George S., ed. (November 29, 2012). Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900 (7th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 156. ISBN   978-1440230851.
  4. ↑ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 29, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 310. ISBN   978-1440246548.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 29, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. pp. 311–312. ISBN   978-1440246548.
  6. 1 2 Cross, W. K. (July 2005). A Charlton Standard Catalogue Canadian Coins (60th ed.). Charlton Press. p. 98. ISBN   978-0889682979.
  7. ↑ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 13, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date (11th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 236. ISBN   978-1440246555.
  8. ↑ Royal Canadian Mint (2017). 2017 Annual Report – Delivering Results (PDF) (Report). p. 86. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ Royal Canadian Mint (2021). Annual Report 2021 - Strong Today, Ready for Tomorrow (PDF) (Report). p. 101. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  10. ↑ Berman, Allen G. (2002). Warman's Coins & Paper Money: A Value & Identification Guide. Krause Publications. p. 120. ISBN   9780873493437.
  11. ↑ Haxby, J. A.; Willey, R.C. (2003). Coins of Canada (21st ed.). Toronto: Unitrade Press. ISBN   1-894763-09-2.
  12. ↑ "Canada: George V 5 Cents 1921,... Canada | Lot #20069". Heritage Auctions.
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