The Curious History of the Canadian "One Cent Piece"

Hey Guys!

         Given my curiosity with Canadian cents due to the large numbers I have found recently I thought I would due a little digging and figure out the general facts and dates of each series in the Canadian one cent line! Here are my findings so far:

        The Canadian "one cent piece" as it is officially know got its start in 1858 as a measure by the Canadian government to bring order to the national financial system, which at the time was dominated by British and U.S. currency. This early design of the cent featured a maple leaf wreath on the reverse with the words "ONE CENT" on the back along with the year of mintage. The obverse featured a portrait of the reigning British ruler of the time: Queen Victoria, who ruled until her death in the January of 1901.

Photo taken from: http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?coin=1-cent-1858&years=1-cent-1858-1859

        After the passing of Queen Victoria, her successor King Edward the VII took power. With this change in monarchy came a new one cent design courtesy of George William de Saulles. The new changes took place starting in 1902 and lasted until the death of King Edward the VII in 1910.

Photo taken from: http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?coin=1-cent-1902&years=1-cent-1902-1910

           From 1911 to 1936. The one cent design was of King Edward's successor: George the V taken from the images on the British postage stamps, known as The Admirals. 

Photo taken from: http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?coin=1-cent-1911&years=1-cent-1911-1920

         With his death in 1936 (what exactly is up with all of these 20 year reigns??), King Edward the VII came into power. Though he never saw his face on Canadian currency due his abdication on December 11th of the 1936 so that he could marry the love of his life.  His brother George the VI took power the same day his older brother abdicated and due to this weird exchange of power Canadian one cents from 1937 to 1952 bear the face of King George the VI (as seen below).

Photo taken from: http://www.coincommunity.com/canadian_small_cents/george_vi.asp

            Another important change that came with the 1937 small cent was the adoption of a new reverse design that would be used until 2012 when the coin ceased production. This new back was designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget and features a pair of maple leafs dominating the middle of the cent with the writing "1 CENT" and "CANADA". The date is also included on the lower left-hand side of the reverse. With his passing in 1952 a new ruler would com to power and be the last to ever be portrayed on the Canadian one cent piece because she is still living today...

            ...her name is Queen Elizabeth the II, and as of this year she has been ruling for 64 years of her 90 year life!!!! Just plain wow with this incredible woman!!! Anyways the point is that her portrait on the small cent has been changed multiple times to accommodate the changes to her face as she ages. The first design appeared in 1953 and features a strong and determined looking young woman.

Photo taken from: http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?coin=1-cent-1953&years=1

           The first alteration of the Elizabeth II cent appeared in 1965, when the young woman became more mature with the removal of her hair ribbons and the adoption of a tiara on her head.

Photo taken from: http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?coin=1-cent-1965&years=1..

              The design changed again in 1990 when th face resembled that of a woman in her later years who still retained the tiara from the 1965 design.

Photo taken from: http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?coin=1-cent-1990&years=1-cent-1965-2012

                 In 2003 the tiara disappeared and gave the portrait and kinder and less stern appearance.  

Photo taken from: http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-prices.php?coin=1-cent-2003&years=1-cent-1965-2012

         The changes made in 2003 marked the last major design changes, excluding commemorative reverses, ever to be made to the Canadian small cent. In 2012 the Canadian government's budget called for a complete stop of Canadian one cent production because it took 1.6 cents of metal to make a one cent piece> With this declaration, the last one cent was minted on May 4th, 2012 with the coins continuing to be distributed into 2013. While they are still accepted as legal tender the Canadian government has begun to recollect the approximately 35 billion one cent pieces out there and melt them down for other purposes.

          Well that was an awesome history lesson!!! I personally love how the events behind each ruler led to the variations in the design of the coin! Anyways I have some other projects to finish up and see you all tomorrow!

Happy Collecting!

- Sean