1 Cent - Elizabeth II (1st portrait)
Canada • 1 Cent • Bronze (98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc) • 1953–1964
- Denomination
- 1 Cent
- Issuer
- Canada
- Struck
- 1953–1964
- Composition
- Bronze (98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc)
- Currency
- Dollar
- Weight
- 3.24 g
- Diameter
- 19.05 mm
- Catalog refs
- KM 49 · Schön 48
Where to find one
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Where it came from
The 1953 Canadian one-cent coin marked a significant transition in numismatic history, serving as the first issue to feature the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II following her coronation. Minted in response to the death of King George VI, this coin depicts the young Queen in a portrait designed by Mary Gillick. Gillick's vision was chosen for its elegant, youthful profile, which diverged from the traditional, more regal interpretations favored by previous monarchs.
This particular year is distinguished among collectors for the 'no shoulder strap' versus 'shoulder strap' varieties, reflecting an adjustment made to the Queen's attire during the initial production runs. While the coin was designed to symbolize a new era of the Commonwealth, its reception by the public was largely functional, as it remained the standard base unit of currency for daily transactions across Canada for several decades before the eventual phasing out of the denomination.
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About 1 Cent - Elizabeth II (1st portrait)
1 Cent - Elizabeth II (1st portrait) is a coin in the Coins catalog on collecto.rs. Canada • 1 Cent • Bronze (98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc) • 1953–1964. Catalog data is sourced from Numista. No public coins collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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