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
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
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
19.05
1.65
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
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
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
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
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
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
1858
92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
4.65
23.3
?
 
92% steel, 5.5% copper, 2.5% nickel
 
 
 

25
Cent
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
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
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
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
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
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
Year Range
Composition
Weight (g)
Diameter (mm)
Thickness (mm)
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


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