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 has 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 | Technical specifications | Mintages

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

1908 - 2,401,506

1909 - 3,973,339

1910 - 1919

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 - present

2010 - 486,200,000

2011 - 662,750,000

2012 - 199,347,000

2013 - 0

2014 - 0

2015 - 0

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