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
DesignElizabeth II, Queen of Canada
DesignerSusanna Blunt
Design date2003
Reverse
DesignBeaver sitting on a rock
DesignerG.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. Due to inflation, the purchasing power of the nickel continues to drop and currently the coin represents less than 0.5% of the country's lowest minimum hourly wage.

The denomination (i.e., the Canadian five-cent piece) had been introduced in 1858 as a small, thin sterling silver coin, that was colloquially known as a "fish scale", not a nickel. The larger base metal version made of nickel, and called a "nickel", was introduced as a Canadian coin in 1922, originally as 99.9% nickel metal. These coins were magnetic, due to the high nickel content. Versions during World War II were minted in tombac (a copper-zinc alloy), then chrome and nickel-plated steel, and finally returned again to nickel at the end of the war. A plated steel version was again made from 1951 to 1954 during the Korean War. Rising nickel prices eventually caused another switch to cupronickel in 1982 (an alloy similar to the US nickel), but more recently, Canadian nickels are minted in nickel-plated steel, containing a small amount of copper. Due to the aforementioned rise in nickel prices, since 1982, five-cent pieces composed of 99.9% nickel have been slowly removed from circulation to be melted by the Royal Canadian Mint. Only cupronickel and modern multi-ply plated steel five-cent pieces are considered "circulation coins".[1] As a result, pre-1982 five cent pieces are often sought by collectors.

From 1942 to 1962, Canadian five-cent coins were produced in a distinctive 12-sided shape, evocative of the British threepence coin. Originally this was done to distinguish the copper-coloured tombac coins, from pennies. However, the characteristic shape was retained for another eighteen years after 1944 when this coin was later produced in 99.9% nickel and chrome-plated steel.

The coin is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint at its facility in Winnipeg.

History

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'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

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.[2] The coin believed to be the finest known specimen (PCGS MS-67) sold for US$115,000 at auction in January 2010.[3] It was then sold by the Canadian Numismatic Company for $160,000 to a private collector in early 2012.

Types and specifications

Definitive types
Image Years Mass[4][5] Diameter[4][5] Composition[4][5]
1858–1901 1.16 g 15.5 mm 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
1902–1910 1.16 g 15.5 mm 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
1911–1921 1.17 g 15.5 mm 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper (1911–1919)
80% silver, 20% copper (1920–1921)
1922–1936 4.54 g 21.21 mm 99.9% nickel
1937–1942 4.54 g 21.21 mm 99.9% nickel
1942–1945 4.54 g 21.3 mm 88% copper, 12% zinc ("tombac") (1942–1943)
Chrome plated steel (1944–1945)
1946–1952 4.54 g 21.3 mm 99.9% nickel (1946–1951)
Chrome plated steel (1951–1952)
1953–1964 4.54 g 21.3 mm Chrome plated steel (1953–1954)
99.9% nickel (1955–1964)
1965–1981 4.54 g 21.3 mm 99.9% nickel
1982–1989 4.6 g 21.2 mm 75% copper, 25% nickel
1990–2001, 2006
(No "P"
on obverse)		 4.6 g 21.2 mm 75% copper, 25% nickel
1999–2003
(With "P")		 3.95 g 21.2 mm 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating
2003–present
(With RCM logo
on obverse)		 3.95 g 21.2 mm 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating

Commemorative nickels

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.[6] 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.

Commemorative editions of the Canadian nickel
Image Year Theme Artist Mintage Special notes
1943 Victory (Tombac) Thomas Shingles 24,760,256[7] 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.
1944–1945 Victory (Steel) Thomas Shingles 11,532,784 (1944)
18,893,216 (1945)[7]		 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.
1951 Discovery of Nickel Stephen Trenka 9,028,507[7] 200th anniversary of the discovery of nickel. Features a nickel refinery.
1967 Canadian Centennial Alex Colville 36,876,574[7] Features a hopping rabbit. Dated 1867–1967.
2005 Victory anniversary Thomas Shingles 59,269,192[8] 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[9] 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.

Mintage

List of the mintage of every year
Victoria
Year Mintage[10][11]
1858 Small date
1858 Large date over small date		 1,500,000
1870 Flat rim
1870 Wire rim		 2,800,000
1871 1,400,000
1872 H 2,000,000
1874 H Plain 4
1874 Crosslet 4		 800,000
1875 H Large date
1875 H Small date		 1,000,000
1880 H 3,000,000
1881 H 1,500,000
1882 H 1,000,000
1883 H 600,000
1884 200,000
1885 Small 5
1885 Large 5
1885 Large 5 over small 5		 1,000,000
1886 Small 6
1886 Large 6		 1,700,000
1887 500,000
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
1896 1,500,000
1897 1,319,283
1898 580,717
1899 3,000,000
1900 Oval 0’s
1900 Round 0’s		 1,800,000
1901 2,000,000
Edward VII
Year Mintage[11]
1902 2,120,000
1902 Large broad H
1902 Small narrow H		 2,200,000
1903 1,000,000
1903 H 2,640,000
1904 2,400,000
1905 2,600,000
1906 3,100,000
1907 5,200,000
1908 1,220,524
1909 Round leaves
1909 Pointed leaves		 1,983,725
1910 Pointed leaves
1910 Rounded leaves		 3,850,325
George V
Year Mintage[5]"5 cents". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 19, 2022.</ref>
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
1922 4,763,186
1923 2,475,201
1924 3,066,658
1925 200,050
1926 933,577
1927 5,285,627
1928 4,588,725
1929 5,562,262
1930 3,685,991
1931 5,100,830
1932 3,198,566
1933 2,597,867
1934 3,827,303
1935 3,900,000
1936 4,400,450
George VI
Year Mintage
1937 4,593,263
1938 3,898,974
1939 5,661,123
1940 13,820,197
1941 8,681,785
1942 10,243,778
1943 24,760,256
1944 11,532,784
1945 18,893,216
1946 6,952,684
1947 17,198,848
1948 1,810,789
1949 13,736,276
1950 11,950,520
1951 12,642,641
1952 10,891,148
Elizabeth II (1st Portrait)
Year Mintage
1953 16,635,552
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
Elizabeth II (2nd Portrait)
Year Mintage
1965 84,876,018
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
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
Elizabeth II (3rd Portrait)
Year Mintage
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[12]
Elizabeth II (4th Portrait)
Year Mintage
2003 61,392,180[12]
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[13]
2022

See also

References

  1. ↑ Royal Canadian Mint Act R.S.C., 1985, c. R-9: Section 6 – "Non-circulation Coins" and "Circulation Coins"; Part 1 – "Non-circulation Coins"; Part 2 – "Circulation Coins"
  2. ↑ Haxby, J.A.; R.C. Willey (2003). Coins of Canada (21st ed.). Toronto: Unitrade Press. ISBN 1-894763-09-2.
  3. ↑ "Canada: George V 5 Cents 1921,... Canada | Lot #20069". Heritage Auctions.
  4. 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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "5 cents". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  6. ↑ Munroe, Susan. "World War II Victory Nickel Re-issued in Canada". Archived from the original on October 22, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Michael, Thomas (ed.). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. pp. 311–312. ISBN 978-1440246548.
  8. ↑ Michael, Thomas (ed.). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date (11th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 236. ISBN 978-1440246555.
  9. ↑ Royal Canadian Mint (2017). 2017 Annual Report – Delivering Results (PDF) (Report). p. 86. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ Cuhaj, George S. (ed.). Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900 (7th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 156. ISBN 978-1440230851.
  11. 1 2 Michael, Thomas (ed.). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 310. ISBN 978-1440246548.
  12. 1 2 Cross, W. K. A Charlton Standard Catalogue Canadian Coins (60th ed.). p. 98. ISBN 978-0889682979.
  13. ↑ Royal Canadian Mint (2021). Annual Report 2021 - Strong Today, Ready for Tomorrow (PDF) (Report). p. 101. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
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