Canadian Small Cent - Elizabeth II- 1953 to 1959 - Canada - Select Year(s) / Quantity

Location Canada
Issuing entity Royal Canadian Mint
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 1953-1959
Value 1 Cent
Currency Canadian dollar (1858-date)
Composition Bronze (.980 Cu, .005 Sn, .015 Zn)
Weight 3.24 g
Diameter 19.05 mm
Thickness 1.65 mm
Mint Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa, Canada

Obverse: The laureate 1st effigy in right profile of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, at 27 years of age.

Reverse: A maple twig is surrounded with the face value and the inscription "CANADA"

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This coin has some varieties known as 'Shoulder fold' (SF) and 'No shoulder fold' (NSF). This was due to weak relief on dies, and accidental reuse of the old dies. These varieties can be found in the years 1953, 1954 and 1955, with the 1955 NSF being the rarity. Since it is difficult to differentiate SF from NSF, it is helpful to look at the "I" in "DEI". If it points directly to a denticle, it is the SF obverse. If pointing in between two denticles, it is the NSF obverse.

Production of the penny ceased in May 2012, and the Royal Canadian Mint ceased distribution of them as of February 4, 2013. However, the coin remains legal tender. Nevertheless, once distribution of the coin ceased, vendors were no longer expected to return pennies as change for cash purchases, and were encouraged to round purchases to the nearest five cents. Non-cash transactions are still denominated to the cent.

From 1858 to 1907, Canadian coins were struck at mints in England.
First Canadian-produced penny dates from 1908, when the Ottawa branch of the British Royal Mint opened.
Since 1908, the mint has produced 35 billion pennies, half of them in the last 20 years.

Mintage
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