Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage -
Canadian Circulation Coinage

One Cent
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1876-1920 .95 Copper .04 Tin .01 Zinc .182 87.5 5.67 .02 1 25.4 UA UA
1920-1941 .955 Copper .03 Tin .015 Zinc .104 50 3.24 .02 .75 19.05 .065 1.65
1942-1977 .98 Copper .005 Tin .015 Zinc .104 50 3.24 .02 .75 19.05 .065 1.65
1978-1979 .98 Copper .0175 Tin .0025 Zinc .104 50 3.24 .02 .75 19.05 .06 1.52
1980-1981 .98 Copper .0175 Tin .0025 Zinc .09 42.72 2.8 .02 .74 19 .054 1.38
1982-1996 .98 Copper .0175 Tin .0025 Zinc
12 - Sided		 .08 38.6 2.5 .02 .74(1)
.752(2)		 19(1)
19.1(2)		 .057 1.45
1997-1999 .984 Zinc .016 Copper plating .072 35 2.25 UA .75 19.05 .057 1.45
2000-Date .94 Steel .015 Nickel
.045 Copper plating		 .075 36.27 2.35 UA .75 19.05 .057 1.45
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.
UA - Unavailable information at this time.
All one cent : 1876 -1996 - Alloy known as Bronze.
(1) - Measurement taken across the "Sides".
(2) - Measurement taken across the "Corners".

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

Five Cents
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1870-1919 .925 Silver .075 Copper (SS) .037 18 1.167 .0083 .61 15.494 UA UA
1920-1921 .800 Silver .200 Copper .037 18 1.167 .0083 .61 15.494 UA UA
1922-1942 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity) .146 70 4.54 .0143 .835 21.21 .067 1.7
1942-1943 .88 Copper  .12 Zinc (T)
12 Sided		 .146 70 4.54 UA .823(1)
.837(2)		 20.9(1)
21.26(2)		 .067 1.7
1944-1945
1951-1954		 Chromium Plated Steel
12 Sided		 .146 70 4.54 UA .823(1)
.837(2)		 20.9(1)
21.26(2)		 .067 1.7
1946-1951
1955-1962		 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity) 
12 - Sided		 .146 70 4.54 .0143 .823(1)
.837(2)		 20.9(1)
21.26(2)		 .067 1.7
1963-1981 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .146 70 4.54 .0143 .835 21.21 .067 1.7
1982-1999 .75 Copper .25 Nickel (CN) .148 70.98 4.6 UA .8346 21.2 .069 1.76
2000- Date .945 Steel .035 Copper
.02 Nickel Plating		 .127 60.96 3.95 UA .8346 21.2 .069 1.76
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.
UA - Unavailable information at this time.
(1) - Measurement taken across the "Sides".
(2) - Measurement taken across the "Corners".
(SS) - Alloy known as "Sterling Silver".
(T) - Alloy known as "Tombac", term is derived from Malaysian word "Tombaga" a popular alloy in the East Indies. 
(CN) - Alloy known as "Cupro Nickel" or "Copper-Nickel".

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

Ten Cents
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1870-1919 .925 Silver .075 Copper (SS) .075 36 2.33 .0069 .71 18.034 UA UA
1920-1967 .800 Silver .200 Copper .075 36 2.33 UA .71 18.034 UA UA
1967-1968 .500 Silver .500 Copper .075 36 2.33 .0694 .71 18.034 UA UA
1968-1977 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .067 32 2.07 .0214 .71 18.034 .046 1.16
1978 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .067 32 2.07 .0214 .709 18.03 .0469 1.19
1979-1999 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .067 32 2.07 .0214 .709 18.03 .048 1.22
2000-Date .92 Steel .055 Copper
.025 Nickel Plating		 .056 27 1.75 UA .709 18.03 .048 1.22
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.
UA - Unavailable information at this time.
(SS) - Alloy known as "Sterling Silver".

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

Twenty-Five Cents
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1870-1919 .925 Silver .075 Copper  (SS) .187 90 5.83 .0066 .93 23.62 UA UA
1920-1952 .800 Silver .200 Copper .187 90 5.83 .0066 .93 23.62 UA UA
1953-1967 .800 Silver .200 Copper .187 90 5.83 .0066 .94 23.88 UA UA
1967-1968 .500 Silver .500 Copper .187 90 5.83 .0033 .94 23.88 UA UA
1968-1977 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .162 78 5.05 .0142 .94 23.88 .063 1.6
1978-1999 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .162 78 5.05 .0142 .94 23.88 .062 1.58
2000-Date .94 Steel .038 Copper
.022 Nickel Plating		 .141 68 4.4 UA .94 23.88 .062 1.58
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.
UA - Unavailable information at this time.
(SS) - Alloy known as "Sterling Silver".

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

Fifty Cents
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1870-1919 .925 Silver .075 Copper  (SS) .375 180 11.66 .0055 1.17 29.72 UA UA
1920-1967 .800 Silver .200 Copper .375 180 11.66 UA 1.17 29.72 UA UA
1968-1979 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .26 125 8.1 .0128 1.068 27.13 .076 1.93
1980-2001 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .26 125 8.1 .0128 1.068 27.13 .075 1.9
2000-Date .9315 Steel .0475 Copper
.021 Nickel Plating		 .222 106.5 6.9 UA .94 23.87 .0767 1.95
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.
UA - Unavailable information at this time.
(SS) - Alloy known as "Sterling Silver".

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

One Dollar
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1935-1967 .800 Silver .200 Copper .75 360 22.33 .0042 1.42 36.06 .112 2.84
1968-1982 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .502 241 15.62 .0114 1.265 32.13 .103 2.62
1982-1986 .99 Nickel -(Minimum Purity)  .502 241 15.62 .0114 1.265 32.13 .1004 2.55
1987 .915 Nickel .085 Bronze Plating
Loon - 7 Sided		 .225 108 7 UA 1.05 26.72 .077 1.95
1988-Date .915 Nickel .085 Bronze Plating
Loon - 7 Sided		 .225 108 7 UA 1.04 26.5 .067 1.75
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.
UA - Unavailable information at this time.

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

Two Dollars
Date Composition Weight Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1996-Date Total - .69 Nickel .29 Copper .02 Aluminum
Ring - .99 Nickel - (Minimum Purity)
Core - .92 Copper .06 Aluminum .02 Nickel (AB) 		 .235
.161
.074		 113
77.5
35.5		 7.3
5
2.3		 1.1
1.1
.661		 28
28
16.8		 .071
 1.8
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.
(AB) - Alloy known as Aluminum Bronze

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

Five Dollars
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1912-1914 .900 Gold .100 Copper .269 129 8.36 .0019 .85 21.59   .072 1.82
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.

Technical Aspects of Canadian Coinage

Ten Dollars
Date Composition Weight Tolerance
+ or - (%)		 Diameter Thickness
Troy oz Grains Grams Inches MM Inches MM
1912-1914 .900 Gold .100 Copper .537 258 16.72 .0016 1.06 26.92 .082 2.08
MM - Measurement in Millimeters.

Please direct all comments to: Patrick

Technical Aspects Directory | Main Coinscan Directory

Page created by: muckwa
Changes last made on: 02/24/04


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