Canadian Coins: Type Collecting

Canadian Coins: Type Collecting - Five Cents

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1870-1901

The 1858 5-cent coins of the Province of Canada were sufficient for the Dominion of Canada's needs until 1870.
There are many minor varieties in Queen's portrait, mint mark, rim size, and date size. Any one of these coins represents the date range.
Obverse depicts Queen Victoria.
Coins struck in 0.925 silver; weight 1.16 grams; diameter 15.5 mm.

1902

Obverse depicts King Edward VII.
The word "CANADA" was moved from obverse to reverse, and the style of crown on the reverse was intended to have been changed as well. Due to time constraints, the crown change had to wait until 1903.

1903-1910

1903 coins with the "H" mint mark have 21 leaves in the reverse wreath. All other coins of 1903-1910 have 22 leaves. I do not consider this to be a type difference.
Beginning in 1908, Canada's coins were stuck at the branch mint in Ottawa. The die axis of the 5-cent piece changed from "coin" to "medal".
During 1910, the weight increased from 1.16 to 1.17 grams.

1911

The obverse for 1911 omitted the Latin words "DEI GRATIA" meaning "by the grace of God". Public criticism lead to the abbreviation "DEI GRA:" being added in 1912.
Obverse depicts King George V.

1912-1921

The composition changed between 1919 and 1920, from 0.925 silver to 0.8. I don't consider this enough of a change for calling them separate types. If the change was done partway through the year, you wouldn't have been able to tell them apart.

1922-1936

Coins struck in pure nickel; weight 4.54 grams; diameter 21.21 mm.

1937-1942

Obverse depicts King George VI.
The new reverse designs depicts a beaver.

1942

The needs of World War II meant that nickel could not be used for the 5-cent piece. The British used "tombac", a mixture of 0.88 copper and 0.12 zinc, in 1937 for the three pence piece. Canada adopted the metal for the 5-cent piece in 1942 and 1943. The resulting brown coins, similar in color to the cent, was made 12-sided to help differentiate them.

1943

To help promote the war effort, a new design was created for the reverse. The "V" has a double meaning, the Roman numeral for "five", and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's famous "V" symbol. Around the rim is the International Code message "We win when we work willingly".

1944-1945

As the war continued, demands for copper and zinc meant yet another choice had to be found for the 5-cent coin. Steel was selected, plated with nickel and chromium to reduce the effects of wear, keeping at least the two faces of the steel coin from rusting.

1946-1947

With the war over, the composition and design resumed as 1942, but keeping the popular 12-sided shape.

1948-1950

India's independence necessitated a change in the obverse legend.

1951

1951 marked the 200th anniversary of the isolation and naming of nickel, making this an appropriate coin to commemorate the event.

1951-1952

As with the Second World War, the Korean War placed heavy demands on nickel. Steel, plated with nickel and chromium was again selected as the replacement.

1953-1954

Obverse depicts Queen Elizabeth II.
Shortly after the release of the 1953 coins, the obverse design of the Queen was modified. Some details on the portrait were strengthened, and the legend lettering were made slightly less pointy. I do not consider this a major type change.

1955-1962

Nickel returned to the 5-cent coin in 1955.

1963-1964

To reduce costs of the minting machinery, the dies for the 5-cent coin were changed back to round.

1965-1966, 1968-1978

New obverse portrait of the Queen.

1967

The reverse designs of all Canadian coins were changed for 1967 to celebrate 100 years since Confederation. The 5-cent coin depicts a hopping rabbit.

1979-1981

The portrait of the Queen was changed on the 1c, 5c, 10c, and 25c coins, to make the size of the portrait proportional to the diameter of the coin.

1982-1989

For 1982, the composition switched from pure nickel to 0.75 copper. Containing 0.25 nickel, the coin still looks identical to coins of previous years.

1990-1992

New obverse portrait of the Queen.
The 1992 coin is dated "1867-1992".

1993-2001

Reverse rim denticles replaced by beads.

2000-2003

The metal composition changed to nickel-copper-nickel-plated steel; weight 3.95 grams; diameter 21.1 mm.
Years 2000 and 2001 can be differentiated from the copper-nickel coins by the "P" mark below the Queen's portrait.