| Country: | Canada |
| Denomination: | Nickel |
| Value: | 0.05 |
| Unit: | CAD |
| Mass: | 3.95 |
| Diameter: | 21.2 |
| Thickness: | 1.76 |
| Edge: | smooth (plain) |
| Composition: | Nickel-plated steel 94.5% steel, 3.5% Cu, 2% Ni plating |
| Years Of Minting: | 1858–present |
| Catalog Number: | – |
| Obverse: | Canadian Nickel - obverse.png |
| Obverse Design: | Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada |
| Obverse Designer: | Susanna Blunt |
| Obverse Design Date: | 2003 |
| Obverse Discontinued: | 2023 |
| Obverse2 Design: | Charles III, King of Canada |
| Obverse2 Designer: | Steven Rosati |
| Obverse2 Design Date: | 2023 |
| Reverse: | Canadian Nickel - reverse.png |
| Reverse Design: | Beaver sitting on a rock |
| Reverse Designer: | G.E. Kruger Gray |
| Reverse Design Date: | 1937 |
The Canadian five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a coin worth five cents or one-twentieth of a Canadian dollar. It was patterned on the corresponding coin in the neighbouring United States. It became the smallest-valued coin in the currency upon the discontinuation of the penny in 2013.
See also: History of Canadian currency.
| Definitive types | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Years | Mass[1] [2] | Diameter | Composition | |
| 1858–1901 | 1.16 g | 15.5 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper | ||
| 1902–1910 | 1.16 g | 15.5 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper | ||
| 1911–1921 | 1.17 g | 15.5 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper (1911–1919) 80% silver, 20% copper (1920–1921) | ||
| 1922–1936 | 4.54 g | 21.21 mm | 99.9% nickel | ||
| 1937–1942 | 4.54 g | 21.21 mm | 99.9% nickel | ||
| 1942–1945 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | 88% copper, 12% zinc (tombac) (1942–1943) Chrome plated steel (1944–1945) | ||
| 1946–1952 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | 99.9% nickel (1946–1951) Chrome plated steel (1951–1952) | ||
| 1953–1964 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | Chrome plated steel (1953–1954) 99.9% nickel (1955–1964) | ||
| 1965–1981 | 4.54 g | 21.3 mm | 99.9% nickel | ||
| 1982–1989 | 4.6 g | 21.2 mm | 75% copper, 25% nickel | ||
| 1990–2001, 2006 (No "P" on obverse) | 4.6 g | 21.2 mm | 75% copper, 25% nickel | ||
| 1999–2006 (With "P") | 3.95 g | 21.2 mm | 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating | ||
| 2003–2023 (With RCM logo on obverse) | 3.95 g | 21.2 mm | 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating | ||
| 2023–present | 3.95 g | 21.2 mm | 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating | ||
| Year | Mintage[3] [4] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1858 | This figure includes the small date, and large date over small date varieties. | ||
| 1870 | This figure includes the "Flat rim" and "Wire rim" varieties. | ||
| 1871 | Two different varieties have a 1 over 1 and 7 over 7 in the date. | ||
| 1872 H | The "H" on the coin refers to "Ralph Heaton & Sons". | ||
| 1874 H | This figure includes the "Plain 4" and "Crosslet 4" varieties. | ||
| 1875 H | This figure includes the small and large date varieties. | ||
| 1880 H | |||
| 1881 H | |||
| 1882 H | |||
| 1883 H | |||
| 1884 | Key date, lowest mintage of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. | ||
| 1885 | This figure includes the "small 5", "large 5", and " large 5 over small 5" varieties. | ||
| 1886 | This figure includes the "small" and "large 6" varieties. | ||
| 1887 | Includes a "7 over 7" date variety. | ||
| 1888 | |||
| 1889 | |||
| 1890 H | |||
| 1891 | |||
| 1892 | |||
| 1893 | |||
| 1894 | No coins were minted in 1895. | ||
| 1896 | |||
| 1897 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" 8, and a "narrow 8 over a wide 8" in the date. | ||
| 1898 | |||
| 1899 | |||
| 1900 | This figure includes the "Oval" and "Round 0's" varieties. | ||
| 1901 Victoria | |||
| 1902 Edward VII | |||
| 1902 H | This figure includes the "large broad" and "small narrow" H varieties. | ||
| 1903 | |||
| 1903 H | |||
| 1904 | |||
| 1905 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a 5 over 5. | ||
| 1906 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 6". | ||
| 1907 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 7". | ||
| 1908 | Varieties include a "small" and "large" 8 in the date. | ||
| 1909 | This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties. | ||
| 1910 | This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties. |
| Year | Mintage | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 3,692,350 | ||
| 1912 | 5,863,170 | ||
| 1913 | 5,588,048 | ||
| 1914 | 4,202,179 | ||
| 1915 | 1,172,258 | ||
| 1916 | 2,481,675 | ||
| 1917 | 5,521,373 | ||
| 1918 | 6,052,289 | ||
| 1919 | 7,835,400 | ||
| 1920 | 10,649,851 | ||
| 1921 | 2,582,495 | Almost all of these coins were melted at the mint. | |
| 1922 | 4,763,186 | ||
| 1923 | 2,475,201 | ||
| 1924 | 3,066,658 | ||
| 1925 | 200,050 | Key date, lowest mintage of the George V/VI eras. | |
| 1926 | 933,577 | This figure includes the "near" and "far" 6 varieties. | |
| 1927 | 5,285,627 | ||
| 1928 | 4,588,725 | ||
| 1929 | 5,562,262 | ||
| 1930 | 3,685,991 | ||
| 1931 | 5,100,830 | ||
| 1932 | 3,198,566 | Varieties include a "near" and "far" 2. | |
| 1933 | 2,597,867 | ||
| 1934 | 3,827,303 | ||
| 1935 | 3,900,000 | ||
| 1936 George V | 4,400,450 | ||
| 1937 George VI | 4,593,263 | ||
| 1938 | 3,898,974 | ||
| 1939 | 5,661,123 | ||
| 1940 | 13,820,197 | ||
| 1941 | 8,681,785 | ||
| 1942 Nickel | 6,847,544 | ||
| 1942 Tombac | 3,396,234 | ||
| 1943 | 24,760,256[5] | Intended to stimulate the war effort. The message "We Win When We Work Willingly" is engraved in Morse code on the rim of the coin. | |
| 1944 Steel | 11,532,784 | Intended to stimulate the war effort. The message "We Win When We Work Willingly" is engraved in Morse code on the rim of the coin. | |
| 1945 | 18,893,216 | ||
| 1946 | 6,952,684 | ||
| 1947 | 7,603,724 | The "dot" variety is included in this figure. | |
| 1947 Maple Leaf | 9,595,124 | Obverse "IND: IMP:" aka Indiae Imperator (Emperor of India) removed. | |
| 1948 | 1,810,789 | ||
| 1949 | 13,736,276 | ||
| 1950 | 11,950,520 | ||
| 1951 | 4,313,410 | This figure includes the rare high relief and common low relief varieties. | |
| 1951 Nickel Bicentennial | 9,028,507 | 200th anniversary of the discovery of nickel. Features a nickel refinery. | |
| 1952 | 10,891,148 |
| Year | Mintage | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 16,635,552 | This figure includes the "strap", "no strap", and "near"/"far" leaf varieties. | |
| 1954 | 6,998,662 | ||
| 1955 | 5,355,028 | ||
| 1956 | 9,399,854 | ||
| 1957 | 7,387,703 | ||
| 1958 | 7,607,521 | ||
| 1959 | 11,552,523 | ||
| 1960 | 37,157,433 | ||
| 1961 | 47,889,051 | ||
| 1962 | 46,307,305 | ||
| 1963 | 43,970,320 | ||
| 1964 | 78,075,068 | ||
| 1965 | 84,876,018 | This figure includes the "small" and "large" beads varieties. | |
| 1966 | 27,976,648 | ||
| 1967 | 36,876,574 | Canadian Centennial
| |
| 1968 | 99,253,330 | ||
| 1969 | 27,830,229 | ||
| 1970 | 5,726,010 | ||
| 1971 | 27,312,609 | ||
| 1972 | 62,417,387 | ||
| 1973 | 53,507,435 | ||
| 1974 | 94,704,645 | ||
| 1975 | 138,882,000 | ||
| 1976 | 55,140,213 | ||
| 1977 | 89,120,791 | This figure includes the "high" and "low" 7 varieties. | |
| 1978 | 137,079,273 | ||
| 1979 | 186,295,825 | ||
| 1980 | 134,878,000 | ||
| 1981 | 99,107,900 | ||
| 1982 | 105,539,898 | Cupronickel alloy | |
| 1983 | 72,596,000 | ||
| 1984 | 84,088,000 | ||
| 1985 | 126,618,000 | ||
| 1986 | 156,104,000 | ||
| 1987 | 106,299,000 | ||
| 1988 | 75,025,000 | ||
| 1989 | 141,435,538 | ||
| 1990 | 42,537,000 | ||
| 1991 | 10,931,000 | ||
| 1992 | 53,732,000 | 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada; this nickel is dated 1867–1992. | |
| 1993 | 86,877,000 | ||
| 1994 | 99,352,000 | ||
| 1995 | 78,780,000 | ||
| 1996 | 36,686,000 | This figure includes the "near" and "far" 6 varieties. | |
| 1997 | 27,354,000 | ||
| 1998 | 156,873,000 | ||
| 1999 | 124,861,000 | About 20,000 coins were minted with a "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse. | |
| 2000 | 108,514,000 | ||
| 2000 P | 2,300,000 | The "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse refers to the nickel plated steel alloy. | |
| 2001 | 30,035,000 | ||
| 2001 P | 136,650,000 | The "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse refers to the nickel plated steel alloy. | |
| 2002 P | 135,960,000 | Elizabeth II Golden Jubliee; dated 1952–2002 | |
| 2003 | 61,392,180 | ||
| 2003 P | 31,388,921[6] | The "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse refers to the nickel plated steel alloy. | |
| 2004 P | 123,925,000 | ||
| 2005 P | 148,082,000 | ||
| 2005 P WWII ANV | 59,269,192[7] | 60th anniversary of the end of World War II; this nickel is dated 1945–2005. | |
| 2006 | 43,008,000 | ||
| 2006 P | 184,874,000 | ||
| 2007 | 221,472,000 | ||
| 2008 | 278,530,000 | ||
| 2009 | 266,448,000 | ||
| 2010 | 126,800,000 | ||
| 2011 | 230,328,000 | ||
| 2012 | 202,944,000 | ||
| 2013 | 78,120,000 | ||
| 2014 | 66,364,000 | ||
| 2015 | 87,360,000 | ||
| 2016 | 140,952,000 | ||
| 2017 | 126,680,000 | ||
| 2017 150th Anv | 20,000,000[8] | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada; this nickel is dated 1867–2017. | |
| 2018 | 87,528,000 | ||
| 2019 | 92,736,000 | ||
| 2020 | 31,752,000 | ||
| 2021 | 68,376,000[9] | ||
| 2022 | 83,328,000 |
| Year | Mintage | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 28,422,000 | First year of issue with a bust of Charles III facing left as per custom | |
| 2024 |
| Image--> < | --Only use this if enough images are in the public domain--> | Date | Mintage | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| --> | 90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint | |||
| --> | Sesquicentennial of Canada's first postage stamp | |||
| --> | 125th anniversary of the Royal Military College | |||
| --> | 85th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (World War I) | |||
| --> | Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee) | |||
| --> | 60th anniversary of D-Day | |||
| --> | 60th anniversary of the end of World War II; this nickel is dated 1945–2005. | |||
| --> | 75th anniversary of Canada's Voyageur Silver Dollar | |||
| --> | 100th anniversary of George V on Canadian coins | |||
| --> | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (Centennial rabbit; 2017 version) | |||
| --> | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (our home and native land) | |||
| --> | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (the forgotten 1927 designs) | |||
| --> | 75th anniversary of VE-Day | |||
| --> | Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee) |
Five-cent coins dated 1921 are among the rarest and most collectible Canadian circulation coins, known as "the Prince of Canadian Coins." Estimates of the number of specimens known range between 400 and 480. In May 1921, the government of Canada passed an act authorizing the change to the larger nickel coin, and subsequently the majority of the 1921 mint run was melted down.[10] The coin believed to be the finest-known specimen (PCGS MS-67) sold for at auction in January 2010.[11] It was then sold by the Canadian Numismatic Company for $160,000 to a private collector in early 2012.