Nickel (Canadian coin)
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Canada | |
Value | 0.05 CAD |
---|---|
Mass | 3.95 g |
Diameter | 21.2 mm |
Thickness | 1.76 mm |
Edge | smooth (plain) |
Composition | Nickel-plated steel 94.5% steel, 3.5% Cu, 2% Ni plating |
Years of minting | 1858–present |
Catalog number | – |
Obverse | |
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Design | Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada |
Designer | Susanna Blunt |
Design date | 2003 |
Design discontinued | 2023 |
Design | Charles III, King of Canada |
Designer | Steven Rosati |
Design date | 2023 |
Reverse | |
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Design | Beaver sitting on a rock |
Designer | G.E. Kruger Gray |
Design date | 1937 |
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.
History
[edit]The first ever Canadian five-cent coins were struck by the Royal Mint in London as part of the introductory 1858 coinage of the Province of Canada. The coins were the same size and general composition as the corresponding American coins of the time, so the five-cent coin was based on the half dime. Although the American denomination was introduced as a larger copper-nickel coin in 1866, and the five-cent silver was retired in 1873, the Canadian five-cent coins remained small and silver until 1922.
All Canadian coins (including five-cent coins) were struck in England at the Royal Mint (no mint mark) and the Birmingham Mint (H mint mark) until 1908, when the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint opened. With the exception of some 1968 dimes struck at the Philadelphia Mint, all Canadian coins since 1908 have been minted in Canada.
Due to a rise in the price of silver, Canadian coinage was debased from sterling silver (925 fine) to 800 fine in 1920. In 1922, silver was removed entirely from the five-cent coin, replacing it with a coin of roughly the same dimensions and mass as the American nickel. However, unlike the American coin, which was 75% copper and 25% nickel, the Canadian coin was pure nickel, as Canada was the world's largest producer of the metal. This coin has since been known almost universally as the nickel.
The five-cent coin of Newfoundland, on the other hand, remained silver until the end of the Newfoundland coinage in 1947.
The nickel's composition has changed several times, most notably during World War II and the Korean War when nickel was redirected to the war effort, where it was essential for armour production. In the latter part of 1942 and throughout 1943, the coins were minted in tombac, an 88% copper-12% zinc alloy that got its name originally from the Indonesian/Javanese word for brass or copper. In 1944 and 1945, and again from mid-1951 to 1954, coins were made of steel which was plated twice, first with nickel and then chromium. The plating was applied before the blanks were struck, so the edges of these coins are dull or even rusted. The composition was returned to pure nickel after both wars. More recently, in 1982, the same copper-nickel alloy used in the American coin was adopted in the Canadian coin, with the ironic result that the nickel then contained less nickel than any other circulating Canadian coin except the cent. Since late in 2000, the nickel is now generally made with plated steel. Since the plating is now done after the blanks are punched, the edges of the modern coins receive the plating. Portions of the 2001 and 2006 issues were struck in cupronickel, and can be identified by the lack of the letter "P" under Queen Elizabeth II's portrait, and for their non-magnetic quality.
Starting with the 1942 tombac coins, the nickel was made dodecagonal, presumably to help distinguish it from the cent after it tarnished in circulation. Tombac was removed from the nickel in 1944 (to be replaced by steel, as noted during the Korean war) but the coins in Tombac, steel, or 99.9% nickel all remained twelve-sided until 1963.
All of these coins were lighter than the US version, which is minted to be as close as possible to five grams. Canadian 99.9% nickel five-cent coins are nearly 0.5 gram lighter than this, and its present steel coins are a full gram lighter than US "nickels."
1921 five-cent coin
[edit]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.[1] The coin believed to be the finest known specimen (PCGS MS-67) sold for US$115,000 at auction in January 2010.[2] It was then sold by the Canadian Numismatic Company for $160,000 to a private collector in early 2012.
Types and specifications
[edit]Definitive types | ||||
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Image | Years | Mass[3][4] | Diameter[3][4] | Composition[3][4] |
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1858–1901 | 1.16 g | 15.5 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
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1902–1910 | 1.16 g | 15.5 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
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1911–1921 | 1.17 g | 15.5 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper (1911–1919) 80% silver, 20% copper (1920–1921) |
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1922–1936 | 4.54 g | 21.21 mm | 99.9% nickel |
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1937–1942 | 4.54 g | 21.21 mm | 99.9% nickel |
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1942–1945 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | 88% copper, 12% zinc ("tombac") (1942–1943) Chrome plated steel (1944–1945) |
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1946–1952 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | 99.9% nickel (1946–1951) Chrome plated steel (1951–1952) |
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1953–1964 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | Chrome plated steel (1953–1954) 99.9% nickel (1955–1964) |
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1965–1981 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | 99.9% nickel |
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1982–1989 | 4.6 g | 21.2 mm | 75% copper, 25% nickel |
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1990–2001, 2006 (No "P" on obverse) |
4.6 g | 21.2 mm | 75% copper, 25% nickel |
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1999–2003 (With "P") |
3.95 g | 21.2 mm | 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating |
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2003–present (With RCM logo on obverse) |
3.95 g | 21.2 mm | 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating |
Circulation figures
[edit]Victoria & Edward VII
[edit]Year | Mintage[5][6] | Notes |
---|---|---|
1858 | 1,500,000 | This figure includes the small date, and large date over small date varieties. |
1870 | 2,800,000 | This figure includes the "Flat rim" and "Wire rim" varieties. |
1871 | 1,400,000 | Two different varieties have a 1 over 1 and 7 over 7 in the date. |
1872 H | 2,000,000 | The "H" on the coin refers to "Ralph Heaton & Sons". |
1874 H | 800,000 | This figure includes the "Plain 4" and "Crosslet 4" varieties. |
1875 H | 1,000,000 | This figure includes the small and large date varieties. |
1880 H | 3,000,000 | |
1881 H | 1,500,000 | |
1882 H | 1,000,000 | |
1883 H | 600,000 | |
1884 | 200,000 | Key date, lowest mintage of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. |
1885 | 1,000,000 | This figure includes the "small 5", "large 5", and " large 5 over small 5" varieties. |
1886 | 1,700,000 | This figure includes the "small" and "large 6" varieties. |
1887 | 500,000 | Includes a "7 over 7" date variety. |
1888 | 1,000,000 | |
1889 | 1,200,000 | |
1890 H | 1,000,000 | |
1891 | 1,800,000 | |
1892 | 860,000 | |
1893 | 1,700,000 | |
1894 | 500,000 | No coins were minted in 1895. |
1896 | 1,500,000 | |
1897 | 1,319,283 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" 8, and a "narrow 8 over a wide 8" in the date. |
1898 | 580,717 | |
1899 | 3,000,000 | |
1900 | 1,800,000 | This figure includes the "Oval" and "Round 0's" varieties. |
1901 Victoria | 2,000,000 | |
1902 Edward VII | 2,120,000 | |
1902 H | 2,200,000 | This figure includes the "large broad" and "small narrow" H varieties. |
1903 | 1,000,000 | |
1903 H | 2,640,000 | |
1904 | 2,400,000 | |
1905 | 2,600,000 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a 5 over 5. |
1906 | 3,100,000 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 6". |
1907 | 5,200,000 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 7". |
1908 | 1,220,524 | Varieties include a "small" and "large" 8 in the date. |
1909 | 1,983,725 | This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties. |
1910 | 3,850,325 | This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties. |
George V & George VI
[edit]Year | Mintage[4] | Notes |
---|---|---|
1911 | 3,692,350 | |
1912 | 5,863,170 | |
1913 | 5,588,048 | |
1914 | 4,202,179 | |
1915 | 1,172,258 | |
1916 | 2,481,675 | |
1917 | 5,521,373 | |
1918 | 6,052,289 | |
1919 | 7,835,400 | |
1920 | 10,649,851 | |
1921 | 2,582,495 | Almost all of these coins were melted at the mint. |
1922 | 4,763,186 | |
1923 | 2,475,201 | |
1924 | 3,066,658 | |
1925 | 200,050 | Key date, lowest mintage of the George V/VI eras. |
1926 | 933,577 | This figure includes the "near" and "far" 6 varieties. |
1927 | 5,285,627 | |
1928 | 4,588,725 | |
1929 | 5,562,262 | |
1930 | 3,685,991 | |
1931 | 5,100,830 | |
1932 | 3,198,566 | Varieties include a "near" and "far" 2. |
1933 | 2,597,867 | |
1934 | 3,827,303 | |
1935 | 3,900,000 | |
1936 George V | 4,400,450 | |
1937 George VI | 4,593,263 | |
1938 | 3,898,974 | |
1939 | 5,661,123 | |
1940 | 13,820,197 | |
1941 | 8,681,785 | |
1942 Nickel | 6,847,544 | |
1942 Tombac | 3,396,234 | |
1943 | 24,760,256 | |
1944 Steel | 11,532,784 | One "1944" dated coin is known to have survived in Tombac. |
1945 | 18,893,216 | |
1946 | 6,952,684 | |
1947 | 7,603,724 | The "dot" variety is included in this figure. |
1947 Maple Leaf | 9,595,124 | Obverse "IND: IMP:" (Emperor of India) removed. |
1948 | 1,810,789 | |
1949 | 13,736,276 | |
1950 | 11,950,520 | |
1951 | 4,313,410 | This figure includes the rare high relief and common low relief varieties. |
1951 Nickel Bicentennial | 9,028,507 | |
1952 | 10,891,148 |
Elizabeth II
[edit]Year | Mintage |
---|---|
1953 | 16,635,552[a] |
1954 | 6,998,662 |
1955 | 5,355,028 |
1956 | 9,399,854 |
1957 | 7,387,703 |
1958 | 7,607,521 |
1959 | 11,552,523 |
1960 | 37,157,433 |
1961 | 47,889,051 |
1962 | 46,307,305 |
1963 | 43,970,320 |
1964 | 78,075,068 |
1965 | 84,876,018[b] |
1966 | 27,976,648 |
1967 | 36,876,574 |
1968 | 99,253,330 |
1969 | 27,830,229 |
1970 | 5,726,010 |
1971 | 27,312,609 |
1972 | 62,417,387 |
1973 | 53,507,435 |
1974 | 94,704,645 |
1975 | 138,882,000 |
1976 | 55,140,213 |
1977 | 89,120,791[c] |
1978 | 137,079,273 |
1979 | 186,295,825 |
1980 | 134,878,000 |
1981 | 99,107,900 |
1982 | 105,539,898 |
1983 | 72,596,000 |
1984 | 84,088,000 |
1985 | 126,618,000 |
1986 | 156,104,000 |
1987 | 106,299,000 |
1988 | 75,025,000 |
1989 | 141,435,538 |
1990 | 42,537,000 |
1991 | 10,931,000 |
1992 | 53,732,000 |
1993 | 86,877,000 |
1994 | 99,352,000 |
1995 | 78,780,000 |
1996 | 36,686,000 |
1997 | 27,354,000 |
1998 | 156,873,000 |
1999 | 124,861,000 |
2000 | 108,514,000 |
2001 | 166,686,000 |
2002 | 135,960,000 |
2003 | 31,388,921[7] |
2003 | 61,392,180[7] |
2004 | 123,925,000 |
2005 | 148,082,000 |
2006 | 184,874,000 |
2007 | 221,472,000 |
2008 | 278,530,000 |
2009 | 266,448,000 |
2010 | 126,800,000 |
2011 | 230,328,000 |
2012 | 202,944,000 |
2013 | 78,120,000 |
2014 | 66,364,000 |
2015 | 87,360,000 |
2016 | 140,952,000 |
2017 | 126,680,000 |
2018 | 87,528,000 |
2019 | 92,736,000 |
2020 | 31,752,000 |
2021 | 68,376,000[8] |
2022 | |
2023 |
Commemorative nickels
[edit]Although not strictly a commemorative, 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.[9] 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.
Image | Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Special notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1943 | Victory (Tombac) | Thomas Shingles | 24,760,256[10] | 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. |
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1944–1945 | Victory (Steel) | Thomas Shingles | 11,532,784 (1944) 18,893,216 (1945)[10] |
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. |
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1951 | Discovery of Nickel | Stephen Trenka | 9,028,507[10] | 200th anniversary of the discovery of nickel. Features a nickel refinery. |
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1967 | Canadian Centennial | Alex Colville | 36,876,574[10] | Features a hopping rabbit. Dated 1867–1967. |
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2005 | Victory anniversary | Thomas Shingles | 59,269,192[11] | 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The rim of this edition is smooth. It does not have the denticles the 1943–1945 edition had. Dated 1945–2005. |
2017 | Canada 150 | Gerald Gloade | 20,000,000[12] | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. Features a beaver influenced by the northeastern woodland Algonkian heritage. The theme of the coin is "Our Passions". Dated 1867–2017. |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Haxby, J.A.; R.C. Willey (2003). Coins of Canada (21st ed.). Toronto: Unitrade Press. ISBN 1-894763-09-2.
- ^ "Canada: George V 5 Cents 1921,... Canada | Lot #20069". Heritage Auctions.
- ^ a b c "Industrious, enduring–the 5-cent coin". mint.ca. Royal Canadian Mint. Archived from the original on January 12, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "5 cents". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ Cuhaj, George S., ed. (November 29, 2012). Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900 (7th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 156. ISBN 978-1440230851.
- ^ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 29, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 310. ISBN 978-1440246548.
- ^ a b Cross, W. K. (July 2005). A Charlton Standard Catalogue Canadian Coins (60th ed.). Charlton Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0889682979.
- ^ Royal Canadian Mint (2021). Annual Report 2021 - Strong Today, Ready for Tomorrow (PDF) (Report). p. 101. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Munroe, Susan. "World War II Victory Nickel Re-issued in Canada". Archived from the original on October 22, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 29, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. pp. 311–312. ISBN 978-1440246548.
- ^ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 13, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date (11th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 236. ISBN 978-1440246555.
- ^ Royal Canadian Mint (2017). 2017 Annual Report – Delivering Results (PDF) (Report). p. 86. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
External links
[edit]Media related to Nickel (Canadian coin) at Wikimedia Commons
- Value of Canadian Nickel
- Canadian Nickel varieties