1 cent

A National Symbol–the 1‑cent Coin

The maple leaf is a proud and distinctive Canadian symbol, appearing on all Canadian coins minted between Confederation and 1935. The modern 1-cent coin features two maple leaves on the same twig. The design, created by G.E. Kruger-Gray, was first used in 1937 and remained unchanged with one exception: in 1967, a rock dove designed by renowned Canadian artist Alex Colville appeared on the reverse to celebrate Canada's Centennial. Countess Grey struck the first 1-cent coin on January 2, 1908 at the official opening of the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint, which became the Royal Canadian Mint in 1931.

Reverse Side Designs

1858 – 1920

The maple leaf wreath

 

1858 – 1911

This 1-cent coin features the design of L.C. Wyon of the Royal Mint. It portrays maple leaves wrapped around a vine.

 

1911 – 1920

W.H.J. Blackmore designed this reverse of the 1-cent coin. The representation of maple leaves wrapped around a vine was kept.

 

1920 – 1936

The two maple leaves

This design, created by Fred Lewis, coincided with a reduction in the 1-cent coin's diameter.

 

1937 – 1966, 1968 – 1981, 1997 – present

The maple leaf twig (round coin)

In 1937, as part of an effort to modernize Canada's coins, G.E. Kruger-Gray created the maple leaf twig design. His initials appear on the right.

 

1967

The centennial 1-cent coin

Alex Colville created a special set of coin designs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation; the penny features a rock dove in flight.

 

1982 – 1996

The maple leaf twig (12-sided coin)

The shape of the maple leaf twig was altered to make identification easier for the visually impaired. The coin reverted to the round design in 1997.

Technical Specifications

1908 – 1920

Composition: 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 5.67
Diameter (mm): 25.4
Thickness (mm): n/a

 

1920 – 1941

Composition: 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.65

 

1942 – 1977

Composition: 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.65

 

1978 – 1979

Composition:  98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.52

 

1980 – 1981

Composition:  98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 2.8
Diameter (mm): 19
Thickness (mm): 1.45

 

1982 – 1996

Composition:  98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 2.5
Diameter (mm): 19.1
Thickness (mm): 1.45

 

1997 – 1999

Composition: 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating
Weight (g): 2.25
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.45

 

2000 – present*

Composition: 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating
Weight (g): 2.35
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.45

*Note: Since 2000, the 1-cent coin can be produced using either the copper-plated steel or copper-plated zinc compositions.

Mintages

1908 – 1909
Year Mintage
1908 2,401,506
1909 3,973,339

 

1910 – 1919
Year Mintage
1910 5,146,487
1911 4,663,486
1912 5,107,642
1913 5,735,405
1914 3,405,958
1915 4,932,134
1916 11,022,367
1917 11,899,254
1918 12,970,798
1919 11,279,634

 

1920 – 1929
Year Mintage
1920 22,246,170
1921 7,601,627
1922 1,243,635
1923 1,019,022
1924 1,593,195
1925 1,000,622
1926 2,143,372
1927 3,553,928
1928 9,144,860
1929 12,159,840

 

1930 – 1939
Year Mintage
1930 2,538,613
1931 3,842,776
1932 21,316,190
1933 12,079,310
1934 7,042,358
1935 7,526,400
1936 8,768,769
1937 10,090,231
1938 18,365,608
1939 21,600,319

 

1940 – 1949
Year Mintage
1940 85,740,532
1941 56,336,011
1942 76,113,708
1943 89,111,969
1944 44,131,216
1945 77,268,591
1946 56,662,071
1947 74,949,349
1948 25,767,779
1949 33,128,933

 

1950 – 1959
Year Mintage
1950 60,444,992
1951 80,430,379
1952 67,631,736
1953 67,806,016
1954 22,181,760
1955 56,403,193
1956 78,685,535
1957 100,601,792
1958 59,385,679
1959 83,615,343

 

1960 – 1969
Year Mintage
1960 75,772,775
1961 139,598,404
1962 227,244,069
1963 279,076,334
1964 484,655,322
1965 304,441,082
1966 183,644,388
1967 345,140,645
1968 329,695,772
1969 335,240,929

 

1970 – 1979
Year Mintage
1970 344,145,010
1971 298,228,936
1972 451,304,591
1973 457,058,489
1974 692,058,489
1975 642,618,000
1976 701,122,890
1977 453,050,666
1978 911,170,647
1979 753,942,953

 

1980 – 1989
Year Mintage
1980 911,800,000
1981 1,209,468,500
1982 876,036,898
1983 975,510,000
1984 838,225,000
1985 771,772,500
1986 788,285,000
1987 774,549,000
1988 482,676,752
1989 1,066,628,200

 

1990 – 1999
Year Mintage
1990 218,035,000
1991 831,001,000
1992 673,512,000
1993 808,585,000
1994 639,516,000
1995 624,983,000
1996 445,746,000
1997 549,868,000
1998 999,578,000
1999 1,089,625,000

 

2000 – 2009
Year Mintage
2000 902,506,000
2001 928,434,000
2002 830,040,000
2003 748,123,000
2004 842,486,000
2005 767,425,000
2006 1,261,883,000
2007 846,420,000
2008 787,625,000
2009 455,680,000

 

2010 – 2012
Year Mintage
2010 486,200,000
2011 662,750,000
2012 199,347,000
Canadian Circulation
Over 1 billion circulation coins are minted each year at our high-tech plant in Winnipeg. We not only produce all of Canada’s circulation coins, we also manage the national coin supply – from weekly forecasting, to production, to recycling and eventual retirement.
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