1 Cent (In the name of George V; Farewell to the Penny 1920-1936)

The 2012 Canadian one-cent coin marked the end of an era for the nation’s currency system. Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, this final issue was released as part of the federal government’s decision to phase out the penny due to the high cost of production relative to its face value and its diminishing purchasing power. The design retains the traditional maple leaf motif, which had been a staple of the one-cent piece for decades, serving as a symbolic farewell to a denomination that had been in circulation since Canada's confederation.

The design of the reverse features the iconic twin maple leaf sprig, a long-standing emblem of Canadian identity. The obverse depicts the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, as designed by Susanna Blunt, which has been used on Canadian coinage since 2003. Upon its final release, the coin was heavily collected by the Canadian public as a commemorative memento, with many people hoarding the 2012 issues as sentimental artifacts of the country's economic history.