1 Cent - George V

The 1920 Canadian one-cent coin represents a significant transition in numismatic history, marking the first year the denomination was struck with a reduced diameter. Previously, Canadian large cents were cumbersome and modeled after British precedents, but the 1920 redesign shifted the specifications to 19.05 millimeters, aligning them more closely with the size of the United States cent. This change was necessitated by the rising cost of copper and the practical need for a more portable currency in a modernizing economy.

The obverse of the coin features the effigy of King George V, designed by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal, whose portrait was standard across many Commonwealth nations at the time. The reverse displays a simple, elegant design consisting of two maple leaves framing the denomination and date, reflecting the austerity of the post-World War I era. While it lacks the intricate ornamentation of earlier issues, the 1920 cent is esteemed by collectors as the inaugural year of the 'small cent' series, which remains the standard format for the Canadian penny to this day.