Nickel ( Canadian coin ) - wikipedia Nickel ( Canadian coin ) Nickel Canada Value 0.05 CAD Mass 3.95 g Diameter 21.2 mm Thickness 1.76 mm Edge smooth ( plain ) Composition 94.5 % steel, 3.5 % Cu, 2 % Ni plating Years of minting 1858 -- present Catalog number -- Obverse Design Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada Designer Susanna Blunt Design date 2003 Reverse Design Beaver sitting on a rock Designer G.E. Kruger Gray 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. Due to inflation, the purchasing power of the nickel continues to drop and currently the coin represents less than 0.5 % of the country 's lowest minimum hourly wage. The denomination ( i.e., the Canadian five - cent piece ) had been introduced in 1858 as a small, thin sterling silver coin, that was colloquially known as a `` fish scale, '' not a nickel. The larger base metal version made of nickel, and called a `` nickel, '' was introduced as a Canadian coin in 1922, originally as 99.9 % nickel metal. These coins were magnetic, due to the high nickel content. Versions during World War II were minted in copper - zinc, then chrome and nickel - plated steel, and finally returned again to nickel, at the end of the war. A plated steel version was again made 1951 -- 54 during the Korean War. Rising nickel prices eventually caused another switch to cupronickel in 1982 ( an alloy similar to the U.S. nickel ), but more recently, Canadian nickels are minted in nickel - plated steel, containing a small amount of copper. Due to the aforementioned rise in nickel prices, since 1982, five cent pieces composed of 99.9 % nickel, have been slowly removed from circulation to be melted by the Royal Canadian Mint, only cupronickel and modern multi-ply plated steel five cent pieces are considered `` Circulation Coins. '' As a result, pre-1982 five cent pieces are often sought by collectors. From 1942 to 1963, Canadian five - cent coins were produced in a distinctive 12 - sided shape, evocative of the British threepence coin. Originally this was done to distinguish the copper - colored tombac ( copper - zinc alloy ) coins, from pennies. However, the characteristic shape was retained for another nineteen years after 1944 when this coin was later produced in 99.9 % nickel and chrome - plated steel. The coin is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint at its facility in Winnipeg. Contents 1 History 1.1 1921 five - cent coin 2 Types and specifications 3 Commemorative nickels 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History For more details on this topic, see Coins of the Canadian dollar § History. See also : History of Canadian currency The first ever Canadian five - cent coins were struck by the Royal Mint in London as part of the introductory 1858 coinage of the Province of Canada. The coins were the same size and general composition as the corresponding American coins of the time, so the five - cent coin was based on the half dime. Although the American denomination was introduced as a larger copper - nickel coin in 1866, and the five - cent silver was retired in 1873, the Canadian five - cent coins remained small and silver until 1922. All Canadian coins ( including five - cent coins ) were struck in England at the Royal Mint ( no mint mark ) and the Birmingham Mint ( H mint mark ) until 1908, when the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint opened. With the exception of some 1968 dimes struck at the Philadelphia Mint, all Canadian coins since 1908 have been minted in Canada. Due to a rise in the price of silver, Canadian coinage was debased from sterling silver ( 925 fine ) to 800 fine in 1920. In 1922, silver was removed entirely from the five - cent coin, replacing it with a coin of roughly the same dimensions and mass as the American nickel. However, unlike the American coin, which was 75 % copper and 25 % nickel, the Canadian coin was pure nickel, as Canada was the world 's largest producer of the metal. This coin has since been known almost universally as the nickel. The five - cent coin of Newfoundland, on the other hand, remained silver until the end of the Newfoundland coinage in 1947. The nickel 's composition has changed several times, most notably during World War II and the Korean War when nickel was redirected to the war effort, where it was essential for armor production. In the latter part of 1942 and throughout 1943, the coins were minted in tombac, an 88 % copper - 12 % zinc alloy that got its name originally from the Indonesian / Javanese word for brass or copper. In 1944 and 1945, and again from mid-1951 to 1954, coins were made of steel which was plated twice, first with nickel and then chromium. The plating was applied before the blanks were struck, so the edges of these coins are dull or even rusted. The composition was returned to pure nickel after both wars. More recently, in 1982, the same copper - nickel alloy used in the American coin was adopted in the Canadian coin, with the ironic result that the nickel then contained less nickel than any other circulating Canadian coin except the cent. Since late in 2000, the nickel is now generally made with plated steel. Since the plating is now done after the blanks are punched, the edges of the modern coins receive the plating. Portions of the 2001 and 2006 issues were struck in cupro - nickel, and can be identified by the lack of the letter `` P '' under Queen Elizabeth 's portrait, and for their non-magnetic quality. Starting with the 1942 tombac coins, the nickel was made dodecagonal, presumably to help distinguish it from the cent after it tarnished in circulation. Tombac was removed from the nickel in 1944 ( to be replaced by steel, as noted during the Korean war ) but the coins in Tombac, steel, or 99.9 % nickel all remained twelve - sided until 1963. All of these coins were lighter than the U.S. version, which is minted to be as close as possible to five grams. Canadian 99.9 % nickel five - cent coins are nearly half a gram lighter than this, and its present steel coins are a full gram lighter than U.S. `` nickels. '' 1921 five - cent coin 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. The coin believed to be the finest known specimen ( PCGS MS - 67 ) sold for $115,000 U.S ( this does not include taxes ) in a Heritage auction in January 2010. It was then sold by the Canadian Numismatic Company for $160,000 ( this does not include taxes ) to a private collector in early 2012. The only rarer Canadian circulation coin is the 1921 fifty - cent coin, with a population of approximately 75. The 1911 dollar coin is rarer still, with only three examples known ( 2 are made of silver and 1 is made of lead ), but it is a pattern coin that was never released for circulation. One in silver and one in lead are in the Ottawa currency museum. The other silver 1911 $1 is in a private collection since 2003 when it was sold by Heritage auctions for the sum of $690,000 U.S ( this does not include taxes ). It now has a value of $1.25 million. There are rumors that it will be donated to the Ottawa currency museum once the current owner passes away. Types and specifications Definitive types Image Years Mass 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 4.54 g 21.2 mm 75 % copper, 25 % nickel 1990 -- 2001 ( No `` P '' on obverse ) 4.6 g 21.2 mm 75 % copper, 25 % nickel 1999 -- 2003 ( With `` P '' ) 4.6 g 21.2 mm 94.5 % steel, 3.5 % copper, 2 % nickel plating 2003 - present 3.9 g 21.2 mm 94.5 % steel, 3.5 % copper, 2 % nickel plating Commemorative nickels Although not strictly a commemorative, 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. Commemorative types Image Year Theme Artist Special notes 1943 Victory ( Tombac ) Thomas Shingles 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 -- 1945 Victory ( Steel ) Thomas Shingles 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. 1951 Discovery of Nickel Stephen Trenka 200th anniversary of the discovery of nickel. Features a nickel refinery. 1967 Canadian Centennial Alex Colville Features a hopping rabbit. Canada 125 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. 2002 Golden Jubilee 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II 's reign. 2005 Victory Anniversary Thomas Shingles 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The rim of this edition is smooth. It does not have the denticles the 1943 - 1945 edition had. 2017 Canada 150 Gerald Gloade 150th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. Features a beaver influenced by the northeastern woodland Algonkian heritage. The theme of the coin is `` Our Passions ''. See also Big Nickel Nickel ( U.S. coin ) References Jump up ^ Royal Canadian Mint Act R.S.C., 1985, c. R - 9 : Section 6 - `` Non-circulation Coins '' and `` Circulation Coins '' ; Part 1 - `` Non-circulation Coins '' ; Part 2 - `` Circulation Coins '' Jump up ^ Haxby, J.A. ; R.C. Willey ( 2003 ). Coins of Canada ( 21st ed. ). Toronto : Unitrade Press. ISBN 1 - 894763 - 09 - 2. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) ^ Jump up to : Royal Canadian Mint -- Designs, Specifications and Mintages of 5 - Cent Coins Jump up ^ World War II Victory Nickel re-issued in Canada. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coins of Canada. Value of Canadian Nickel Canadian banknotes and coins Canadian coinage 1 ¢ ( penny ) 5 ¢ ( nickel ) 10 ¢ ( dime ) 25 ¢ ( quarter ) 50 ¢ ( 50 - cent piece ) $1 ( Voyageur dollar ) $1 ( loonie ) $2 ( toonie ) Commemorative coins Royal Canadian Mint numismatic coins ( 20th century ) Royal Canadian Mint numismatic coins ( 2000s ) Royal Canadian Mint numismatic coins ( 2010s ) Royal Canadian Mint ice hockey coins Royal Canadian Mint Olympic coins Royal Canadian Mint RCMP coins Silver dollar Gold Maple Leaf Silver Maple Leaf Platinum Maple Leaf Big Maple Leaf Ottawa Mint sovereign Canadian banknotes $5 $10 $20 $50 $100 Commemorative banknotes Withdrawn banknotes Canadian banknotes by Series 1935 Series 1937 Series 1954 Series Scenes of Canada Birds of Canada Canadian Journey Series Frontier Series Historical currencies of Canada New France livre Canadian pound New Brunswick pound Newfoundland pound Nova Scotian pound Prince Edward Island pound British Columbia dollar New Brunswick dollar Nova Scotian dollar Prince Edward Island dollar Newfoundland dollar Early Canadian banking system Newfoundland dollar 1 ¢ 5 ¢ 10 ¢ 20 ¢ 25 ¢ 50 ¢ $2 Coins of the Newfoundland dollar Organizations and institutions Bank of Canada Canadian Bank Note Company Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Canadian Numismatic Association medals and awards Canadian Paper Money Society Currency Museum Royal Canadian Mint Community currencies Calgary dollar Toronto dollar Canadian Tire money Salt Spring dollar Pioneer Bonus Bucks Mac 's Dollars ( Whitehorse, YT ) Other Canadian dollar History of Canadian currency List of people on coins of Canada List of foreign countries with coinage struck at the Royal Canadian Mint Royal Canadian Mint tokens and medallions Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nickel_(Canadian_coin)&oldid=805374249 '' Categories : 1858 establishments in Canada Five - cent coins Coins of Canada Nickel Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from October 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Français Edit links This page was last edited on 14 October 2017, at 23 : 24. 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Question: what is on the back of a canadian nickel
Answer: Beaver sitting on a rock