1 Cent - Elizabeth II (4th portrait; non-magnetic)

The 2003 Canadian one-cent coin featuring the fourth effigy of Queen Elizabeth II represents a transitional moment in Canadian numismatic history. Following the long-running use of the third portrait, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced Susanna Blunt’s design, which depicts a contemporary, crownless Queen. This change marked the first time since 1953 that a Canadian monarch appeared without a crown on the coinage, signaling a modernization of the institution’s aesthetic representation.

Produced during a period of shifting composition standards, the 2003 series includes both magnetic and non-magnetic variants as the Royal Canadian Mint moved away from traditional copper plating toward more cost-effective steel cores. The transition to the Blunt portrait was met with general approval for its clean, modern lines and departure from the rigid traditionalism of earlier designs. As the cent was officially discontinued in 2012, this specific 2003 issue remains a notable example of the final decade of Canada's lowest-denomination circulation coin.