Nickel (Canadian coin)


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.

History

The "Victory nickel", struck from 1943 to 1945, was the first non-standard circulating Canadian coin other than commemorative dollars; the reverse features a flaming torch and a large V that stands for both Victory and the coin's denomination. The rim denticles were replaced by the phrase "We win when we work willingly" in Morse Code. This design was re-used in 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of V-E Day. Almost uniquely in the history of Canadian coinage, the reverse was engraved to scale by Thomas Shingles; most coin designs are engraved at a much larger scale and reduced with a pantograph.
In 1951, a special commemorative five-cent piece depicting a nickel refinery was struck to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the metal's initial discovery by Swedish chemist Axel F. Cronstedt. Due to the onset of the Korean War, production of this commemorative was halted to preserve nickel for the war effort, resulting in a second non-commemorative 1951 "nickel" made of plated steel.
In 1967, all the circulating coins received a special reverse for the Canadian Centennial; the nickel featured a rabbit.
In proof sets issued since 1996, the five cent coin is made of sterling silver. Some commemorative five cent coins are also made of sterling silver.

Types and specifications

Circulation figures

Victoria & Edward VII

George V & George VI

YearMintageNotes
19113,692,350No "Dei Gratia Rex": The words "Dei gratia" were removed from the obverse of the coin to make room for "". It was restored in 1912 after public backlash.
19125,863,170With "Dei ": The wording was restored to the obverse of the coin around the king's bust.
19135,588,048
19144,202,179
19151,172,258
19162,481,675
19175,521,373
19186,052,289
19197,835,400
192010,649,851
19212,582,495Approximately 460 "1921" dated coins are now known as almost all of these were remelted at the mint.
19224,763,186
19232,475,201
19243,066,658
1925200,050Key date, lowest mintage of the George V/VI eras.
1926933,577This figure includes the "near" and "far" 6 varieties.
19275,285,627
19284,588,725
19295,562,262
19303,685,991
19315,100,830
19323,198,566Varieties include a "near" and "far" 2.
19332,597,867
19343,827,303
19353,900,000
1936 George V4,400,450
1937 George VI4,593,263
19383,898,974
19395,661,123
194013,820,197
19418,681,785
1942 Nickel6,847,544
1942 Tombac3,396,234
1943 Tombac24,760,256Intended 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 Steel11,532,784Intended 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 Steel18,893,216
1946 Nickel6,952,684
19477,603,724The "dot" variety is included in this figure.
1947 Maple Leaf9,595,124Obverse "IND: IMP:" aka Indiae Imperator removed.
19481,810,789
194913,736,276
195011,950,520
1951 Beaver4,313,410Struck in nickel-plated steel, this figure includes the scarce high relief and common low relief varieties.
1951 Nickel Bicentennial9,028,507Struck in nickel, the reverse design features a nickel refinery for the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the alloy.
195210,891,148Struck in nickel-plated steel

Elizabeth II

YearMintageNotes
195316,635,552This figure includes the "strap", "no strap", and "near"/"far" leaf varieties.
19546,998,662Struck in nickel-plated steel
19555,355,028Struck in nickel
19569,399,854
19577,387,703
19587,607,521
195911,552,523
196037,157,433
196147,889,051
196246,307,305
196343,970,320
196478,075,068This figure includes the "extra water line" variety.
196584,876,018This figure includes the "small" and "large" beads varieties.
196627,976,648
196736,876,574Canadian Centennial; this nickel features a hopping rabbit and is dated 1867–1967.
196899,253,330
196927,830,229
19705,726,010
197127,312,609
197262,417,387
197353,507,435
197494,704,645
1975138,882,000
197655,140,213
197789,120,791This figure includes the "high" and "low" 7 varieties.
1978137,079,273
1979186,295,825
1980134,878,000
198199,107,900First recorded year of proof strikes.
198264,924,400Cupronickel alloy
198372,596,000
198484,088,000
1985126,618,000
1986156,104,000
1987106,299,000
198875,025,000
1989141,435,538
199042,537,000
199110,931,000
199253,732,000125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada; this nickel is dated 1867–1992.
199386,877,000
199499,352,000
199578,528,000
199636,686,000This figure includes the "near" and "far" 6 varieties.
199727,354,000
1998156,873,000
1999124,861,000About 20,000 coins were minted with a "P" mark under Elizabeth's portrait on the obverse.
2000108,514,000
2000 P2,300,000
200130,035,000
2001 P136,650,000
2002 P135,960,000Elizabeth II Golden Jubliee; dated 1952–2002
200361,392,180
2003 P31,388,921
2004 P123,925,000
2005 P148,082,000
2005 P WWII ANV59,269,19260th anniversary of the end of World War II; this nickel is dated 1945–2005.
200643,008,000
2006 P184,874,000
2007221,472,000
2008278,530,000
2009266,448,000
2010126,800,000
2011230,328,000
2012202,944,000
201378,120,000
201466,364,000
201587,360,000
2016140,952,000
2017126,680,000
2017 150th Anv20,000,000150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada; this nickel is dated 1867–2017.
201887,528,000
201992,736,000
202031,752,000
202168,376,000
202283,328,000