5 Cents - Elizabeth II (2nd portrait modified)

The 1979 Canadian five-cent coin was issued during a transitional period for the Royal Canadian Mint, featuring the second effigy of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Arnold Machin. First introduced in 1965, Machin’s portrait depicts the Queen wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, a design that became a staple of Commonwealth coinage throughout the late 20th century. By 1979, the composition of the coin remained a durable cupro-nickel alloy, reflecting the mint's move away from silver content in smaller denominations during the 1920s.

On the reverse, the coin retains the iconic beaver design by G.E. Kruger Gray, which has been the hallmark of the Canadian nickel since 1937. This motif was intended to celebrate Canada's natural heritage and the historical significance of the fur trade to the nation's early economy. The 1979 issue is a standard circulating strike, widely received by the public as a reliable unit of currency and favored by collectors for its steady consistency and historical connection to the post-war era of Canadian numismatics.