Evolution of Canadian Coin Physical Specifications
The following table shows the changes in size, weight and material used to manufacture Canadian circulation coins from 1858 to date.
1 Cent |
|
|
|
|
|
1858 - 1859 |
95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc |
4.54 |
25.4 |
? |
1876 - 1919 |
95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
5.67 |
25.4 |
? |
1919 - 1920 |
95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
5.67 |
25.4 |
? |
1920 - 1941 |
95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
3.24 |
|
|
1942 - 1977 |
98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
3.24 |
19.05 |
1.65 |
1978 - 1979 |
98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
3.24 |
19.05 |
1.52 |
1980 - 1981 |
98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
2.8 |
19.0 |
1.45 |
1982 - 1996 |
98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
2.5 |
19.1 |
1.45 |
1997 - 1999 |
98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating (Non-Magnetic) |
2.25 |
19.05 |
1.45 |
2000 - 2012* |
94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating (Magnetic) |
2.35
| 19.05
| 1.45
|
2000 - 2012* |
98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating (Non-Magnetic) |
2.35 |
19.05 |
1.45 |
|
5 Cent |
|
|
|
|
|
1858 - 1910 |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
1.16 |
15.5 |
? |
1910 - 1919 |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
1.17 |
15.5 |
? |
1920 - 1921 |
80% silver, 20% copper |
1.17 |
15.5 |
? |
1922 - 1942 |
99% nickel |
4.54 |
21.21 |
1.7 |
1942 - 1943 |
88% copper, 12% zinc (tombac) |
4.54 |
21.21 |
1.7 |
1944 - 1945 |
chrome plated steel |
4.54 |
21.21 |
1.7 |
1946 - 1951 |
99.9% nickel |
4.54 |
21.21 |
1.7 |
1951 - 1954 |
chrome plated steel |
4.54 |
21.21 |
1.7 |
1955 - 1981 |
99.9% nickel |
4.54 |
21.21 |
1.7 |
1982 - 2001 and 2006 (No Logo) |
75% copper, 25% nickel |
4.6 |
21.2 |
1.76 |
2000 - present |
94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating |
3.95 |
21.2 |
1.76 |
|
10 Cent |
|
|
|
|
|
1858 - 1919 |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
2.32 |
18.034 |
? |
1920 - 1967 |
80% silver, 20% copper |
2.33 |
18.034 |
1.16 |
1967 - 1968 |
50% silver, 50% copper |
2.33 |
18.034 |
1.16 |
1968 - 1977 |
99.9% nickel |
2.07 |
18.034 |
1.16 |
1978 |
99.9% nickel |
2.07 |
18.03 |
1.19 |
1979 - 2000 |
99.9% nickel |
2.07 |
18.03 |
1.22 |
2000 - present |
92% steel, 5.5% copper, 2.5% nickel |
1.75 |
18.03 |
1.22 |
|
20 Cent |
|
|
|
|
|
1858 |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
4.65 |
23.3 |
? |
|
92% steel, 5.5% copper, 2.5% nickel |
|
|
|
|
25 Cent |
|
|
|
|
|
1870 - 1910 |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
5.81 |
23.62 |
? |
1910 - 1919 |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
5.83 |
23.62 |
? |
1920 - 1952 |
80% silver, 20% copper |
5.83 |
23.62 |
? |
1953 - 1967 |
80%silver, 20% copper |
5.83 |
23.88 |
? |
1967 - 1968 |
50% silver, 50% copper |
5.83 |
23.88 |
? |
1968 - 1977 |
99.9% nickel |
5.05 |
23.88 |
1.6 |
1978 - 2001 |
99.9% nickel |
5.05 |
23.88 |
1.58 |
2000 - present |
94% steel, 3.8% copper, 2.2% nickel plating |
4.4 |
23.88 |
1.58 |
|
50 Cent |
|
|
|
|
|
1870 - 1919 |
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
Victorian Leaves = 11.62 Edwardian Leaves = 11.66 |
29.72 |
? |
1920 - 1967 |
80% silver, 20% copper |
11.66 |
29.72 |
2.0 |
1968 - 1979 |
99% nickel (minimum) |
8.1 |
27.13 |
1.93 |
1980 - 2000 |
99% nickel (minimum) |
8.1 |
27.13 |
1.9 |
2000 - present |
93.15% steel, 4.75% copper, 2.1% nickel plating |
6.9 |
27.13 |
1.95 |
|
1 Dollar |
|
|
|
|
|
1935 - 1967 |
80% silver, 20% copper |
23.3 |
36.06 |
2.84 |
1968 - 1982 |
99.9% nickel |
15.62 |
32.13 |
2.62 |
1982 - 1986 |
99% nickel (minimum) |
15.62 |
32.13 |
2.55 |
1987 |
91.5% nickel, 8.5% bronze plating |
7 |
26.72 |
1.95 |
1988 - 2002 |
91.5% nickel, 8.5% bronze plating |
7 |
26.5 |
1.75 |
2003 - 2012 |
91.5% nickel, 8.5% bronze plating |
7 |
26.5 |
1.95 |
2012 - present |
multi-ply brass plated steel |
6.27 |
26.5 |
1.95 |
|
2 Dollar |
|
|
|
|
|
1996 - 2012 |
outer ring 99% nickel, insert 92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel |
7.3 |
28 |
1.8 |
2012 - present |
outer ring - multi-ply nickel plated steel, insert - multi-ply brass plated aluminum bronze |
6.92 |
28 |
1.75 |
|
Return to Articles list
Return to Coin Club Home Page