# 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

Definitive types :
| 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 | 4.6 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 |

## Circulation figures
### Victoria & Edward VII

| Year | Mintage | Notes |
| 1858 | 1,500,000 | This figure includes the small date, and large date over small date varieties. |
| 1870 | 2,800,000 | This figure includes the "Flat rim" and "Wire rim" varieties. |
| 1871 | 1,400,000 | Two different varieties have a 1 over 1 and 7 over 7 in the date. |
| 1872 H | 2,000,000 | The "H" on the coin refers to "Ralph Heaton & Sons". |
| 1874 H | 800,000 | This figure includes the "Plain 4" and "Crosslet 4" varieties. |
| 1875 H | 1,000,000 | This figure includes the small and large date varieties. |
| 1880 H | 3,000,000 | |
| 1881 H | 1,500,000 | |
| 1882 H | 1,000,000 | |
| 1883 H | 600,000 | |
| 1884 | 200,000 | Key date, lowest mintage of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. |
| 1885 | 1,000,000 | This figure includes the "small 5", "large 5", and " large 5 over small 5" varieties. |
| 1886 | 1,700,000 | This figure includes the "small" and "large 6" varieties. |
| 1887 | 500,000 | Includes a "7 over 7" date variety. |
| 1888 | 1,000,000 | |
| 1889 | 1,200,000 | |
| 1890 H | 1,000,000 | |
| 1891 | 1,800,000 | |
| 1892 | 860,000 | |
| 1893 | 1,700,000 | |
| 1894 | 500,000 | No coins were minted in 1895. |
| 1896 | 1,500,000 | |
| 1897 | 1,319,283 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" 8, and a "narrow 8 over a wide 8" in the date. |
| 1898 | 580,717 | |
| 1899 | 3,000,000 | |
| 1900 | 1,800,000 | This figure includes the "Oval" and "Round 0's" varieties. |
| 1901 Victoria | 2,000,000 | |
| 1902 Edward VII | 2,120,000 | |
| 1902 H | 2,200,000 | This figure includes the "large broad" and "small narrow" H varieties. |
| 1903 | 1,000,000 | |
| 1903 H | 2,640,000 | |
| 1904 | 2,400,000 | |
| 1905 | 2,600,000 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a 5 over 5. |
| 1906 | 3,100,000 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 6". |
| 1907 | 5,200,000 | Varieties include a "wide" and "narrow" date and a "low 7". |
| 1908 | 1,220,524 | Varieties include a "small" and "large" 8 in the date. |
| 1909 | 1,983,725 | This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties. |
| 1910 | 3,850,325 | This figure includes the "round/rounded" and "pointed" leaves varieties. |

### George V & George VI

| 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 | 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 | |

### Elizabeth II

| 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; this nickel features a hopping rabbit and is dated 1867–1967. |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | |
| 2022 | 83,328,000 | |

### Charles III

| Year | Mintage | Notes |
| 2023 | 28,422,000 | First year of issue with a bust of Charles III facing left as per custom |
| 2024 | TBA | |

## Commemoratives

| Date | Mintage | Reason |
| 1998 | 25,000 | 90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint (matte finish) |
| 1998 | 25,000 | 90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint (mirror finish) |
| 2001 | 59,573 | Sesquicentennial of Canada's first postage stamp |
| 2001 | 25,834 | 125th anniversary of the Royal Military College |
| 2002 | 22,646 | 85th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (World War I) |
| 2003 | 33,490 | Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee) |
| 2004 | 20,019 | 60th anniversary of D-Day |
| 2005 | 42,792 | 60th anniversary of the end of World War II; this nickel is dated 1945–2005. |
| 2010 | 4,996 | 75th anniversary of Canada's Voyageur Silver Dollar |
| 2011 | 6,000 | 100th anniversary of George V on Canadian coins |
| 2017 | 8,017 | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (Centennial rabbit; 2017 version) |
| 2017 | 20,000 | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (our home and native land) |
| 2017 | 5,500 | 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (the forgotten 1927 designs) |
| 2020 | 15,000 | 75th anniversary of VE-Day |
| 2023 | 952,000 | Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee) |

## Collecting

According to author Allen G. Berman, Canadian nickels struck in pure nickel are "very difficult to grade" due to the alloy's hardness. 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 US$115,000 at auction in January 2010. It was then sold by the Canadian Numismatic Company for $160,000 to a private collector in early 2012.