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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