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n/a
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37 Posts |
 Posted - 05/10/2006 : 20:31:00
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Hi ! I am new to this site and want to say hi and ask a question. I went through 5,000 pennies (2 boxes of 50) and got over 300 canadian coins
My question is , what is the copper content of Canadian cents ? I know the newer ones are worthles metal wise, but what about the older ones ?
Thanks !
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Edited by - n/a on 05/12/2006 16:15:23 |
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n/a
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115 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2006 : 22:29:23
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Not to steal realcents thunder but this is from his main page.
For our Canadian friends...Or anyone who has a bunch of Canadian cents or pennies and wants to know the metal content of these coins:
Before 1997: 98% copper, 1.75% zinc, 0.25% other metals
1997-2000: a zinc core, plated with copper
2001-present: core of 94% steel and 1.5% nickel, plated with 4.5% copper.
So in other words, you should hoard the Canadian cents dated EARLIER than 1997.
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain. --- Robert Frost |
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realcent
Forum Admin
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2006 : 07:29:21
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quote:
Originally posted by IM_O.K.
Not to steal realcents thunder but this is from his main page.
For our Canadian friends...Or anyone who has a bunch of Canadian cents or pennies and wants to know the metal content of these coins:
Before 1997: 98% copper, 1.75% zinc, 0.25% other metals
1997-2000: a zinc core, plated with copper
2001-present: core of 94% steel and 1.5% nickel, plated with 4.5% copper.
So in other words, you should hoard the Canadian cents dated EARLIER than 1997.
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain. --- Robert Frost
Thanks, IM_O.K.! 
I have started saving the copper canadians I get in my boxes of pennies, but I keep them in a separate jar. Are others doing this too?
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n/a
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37 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2006 : 08:09:21
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| Thanks for the info guys ! Do you know the weight ? |
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n/a
deleted
115 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2006 : 11:25:07
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Here is some more info on Canadians.
In 1920, mostly to reduce the cost of coinage production, the government ceased to issue large cents at the standard of the British half penny, and began striking small cents of the same weight standard as the American cent.
The obverse design is slightly different than that on the large cents and is by Sir E.B. MacKennal, whose initials B.M. appear on the truncation of the bust. The reverse design is totally new and by Fred Lewis. The alloy also changed slightly as these contain 95.5% copper, 3% tin and 1.5% zinc. The standard weight is 3.24 grams, with a diameter of 19.05 mm (3/4 inch).
1937 saw a major change in Canadian coin designs, making them somewhat more artistic, and now each Canadian denomination had its own distinctive reverse designs (earlier coins were all variations on the same design).
The obverse (common to all the denominations) was designed by T. H. Paget, whose initials H.P. appear on the truncation of the bust. The reverse Maple leaf design is totally new and by Kruger-Gray, as indicated by the initials K.G. in the lower right field. From 1937 to partway through 1942 these coins were struck from an alloy containing 95.5% copper, 3% tin and 1.5% zinc (the same as the earlier small cents) but part way through 1942 the alloy was changed to 98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc. The standard weight is 3.24 grams, with a diameter of 19.05 mm (3/4 inch).
In 1947 India received its independence, so "IND IMP" (India's Emperor) had to be removed from the King's titles on any British Commonweath coins dating 1948 or newer. A problem arose in 1948 when the new dies with "IND IMP" removed were late arriving from England, so it was decided to issue coins dated 1947 but with a small maple leaf after the date to indicate they were actually minted in 1948.
Late in 1948 the new dies arrived from England and coins actually dated 1948 were struck with the new inscription. All other aspects of the coin remain the same as on the earlier issue. However, there are some minor variations in the 1948 and 1949 coin with respect to the exact placement of the lettering of the obverse inscriptions, where on some specimens the A points between two denticles and on some it points directly at a denticle.
There are now two recognized varieties of the 1949 cent, do to slighty different positions of the obverse lettering with respect to the dentricles around the edge. On the common variety the final A in "GRATIA" between two of the dentriclesl. On the scarcer variety that A points directly to one of the dentricles
1953 saw the introduction of Elizabeth II's portrait based on designs by Mary Gillick, whose initials appear on the truncation of the bust. The reverse remains Kruger-Gray's maple leaf design, with his initials in the right field. The flans remain 19.05 mm, 3.25 grams of 98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc
Most of the coins struck in 1953 appear to show the Queen with a bare shoulder, which was considered to be inappropriate. The die engraver (Thomas Shingles) had cut dies with too much relief so the shoulder folds, which were present on the dies, seldom fully struck up. The result is known as the "no shoulder fold" or "no shoulder strap" (NSS) variety. Later in 1953 dies were re-cut with lower relief, after which the shoulder fold strikes up clearly as what is now known as the "shoulder fold" or "shoulder strap" (or SS) variety. There was also a slight change in some of the lettering, as NSS examples have serifed letter "I's" on the obverse, while the SS variety has much straighter "I's". On worn coins, this lettering difference is how you tell the difference between the types.
From 1954 to 1964 the obverse design was intended to remain the SS variety, but some 1954 proof-like sets contain cents accidently struck with a 1953 NSS die, and a small number of 1955 circulation strikes were also struck with a 1953 NSS obverse die. Both are rare, but it is important to check the letter forms to confirm the types, as some crooks have been known to polish off the shoulder fold lines to try and pass standard SS types as NSS types.
In 1965 it was decided to update the Queen's portrait to a slightly more mature look, with the new design by Arnold Machin, showing the Queen with more drapery on her shoulders, and a tiara on her head. The reverse design by Kruger-Gray was retained unchanged. The alloy of 98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc continued to be used, as did the standard weight of 3.24 grams, and diameter of 19.05 mm.
The change in obverse design did not go quite as smoothly as planned, as in 1965 both large and small bead varieties occur. There are also two varieties of how the 5 is drawn in the date, so one actually finds four varieties of 1965 cents.
In 1967, to celebrate Canada's 100th anniversary as a country, all of the standard circulating coins were issued depicting various animals common to Canada, with a dove design by Alex Covillie used for the one cent. The alloys, weight and size remained unchanged. PLEASE NOTE THAT 1967 1 CENT COINS ARE VERY COMMON AND NORMAL CIRCULATION STRIKES, EVEN IN MINT CONDITION, ARE OF VERY LITTLE VALUE.
In 1979 one of the dies, through what is probably hub doubling, developed a doubling of the last three digits in the date. There may have been two dies involved because some specimens show the doubling much more strongly than others.
1980 saw a change in the 1 cent coins that went largely unnoticed by the public. The designs remained the same, as did the alloy, but the weight was reduced from 3.24 grams to only 2.8 grams. This was accomplished by a slight reduction in the diameter from 19.05 mm to 19.00 mm, and more importantly a reduction in the thickness from about 1.5 mm to 1.38 mm. The difference sounds minor but with a mintage of about 1 billion coins per year, the monetary savings in producing these coins was huge.
1982 saw another, more major, change in the 1 cent coins, which also went largely unnoticed by the public. The designs again remained the same, as did the alloy of 98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc, but the weight further reduced from 2.8 grams to only 2.5 grams. The size was actually increased from 19.00 mm to 19.1 mm, but the weight reduction was accomplished by making the coin 12 sided, which was like cutting a small amount of metal away at 12 points around the edge. Another minor change occurred in that on the reverse the dentical border was replaced by a beaded border.
In 1990 it was again decided to update the Queen's portrait to a more mature style, and a design by Dora de Pedery-Hunt was chosen which showed the Queen wearing a crown. This issue caused a great deal of concern when it first appeared because the crown is a King's crown rather than a Queen's crown, and people thought it was an error and would be recalled. However, the particular crown was designed for George IV around 1830 and has been worn by every King and Queen (including both Victoria and Elizabeth) since then because it is fairly light weight. Since it is the crown Queen Elizabeth wears, it is the correct crown for the coins. The reverse maple leaf design by Kruger-Gray remains, as does the alloy of 98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc, with 12 sides at 19.1 mm, 2.5 grams.
1997 saw a major change in the Cent coins. The basic designs remained the same with the mature crowned bust of the Queen by Dora de Pedery-Hunt, and reverse maple leaf design by Kruger-Gray, but the alloy was changed to pure zinc plated with copper (from 98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc). The coins again become round (rather than 12 sided) and are 19.1 mm, but the weight again dropped to 2.25 grams.
In 1998, the Canadian Mint experimented with mint-marked coins in the mint sets, placing a small "W" in front of the Queen's head on those struck at Winnipeg (the ones without the "W" were struck at Ottawa). The experiment was abandoned part way through the year, and examples with the "W" are much scarcer than those without.
In 1999 the Canadian Mint decided to experiment with 1 cent to 50 cent coins made from steel that was copper plated for the 1 cent, and nickel plated over copper plating for the 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent coins. Examples of all denominations were struck in 1999 but only as test tokens for vending machine companies to calibrate their machines to. About 20,000 of each denomination was struck, with most of them ending up in official mint sets of the coins that the mint sold to the public. 2000 saw the first circulation strikes of plated coins (with the "P") with the issue of 5 cent pieces (the few 10, 25 and 50 cent coins known to exist were accidentally released and very rare). 2001 saw the official issues of other denominations begin to appear.
For 2002 a special commemorative issue was struck for the Queen's 50th anniversary. The design is very similar to those used previously, but the date has been removed from the reverse and placed as a double "1952-2002" date on the obverse. While the obverse is reasonably attractive, the reverse looks very unbalanced. In 2003 they returned to the regular single dated coinage.
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain. --- Robert Frost |
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craner450
Penny Sorter Member
52 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 20:05:02
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quote:
Originally posted by n/a
Not to steal realcents thunder but this is from his main page.
For our Canadian friends...Or anyone who has a bunch of Canadian cents or pennies and wants to know the metal content of these coins:
Before 1997: 98% copper, 1.75% zinc, 0.25% other metals
1997-2000: a zinc core, plated with copper
2001-present: core of 94% steel and 1.5% nickel, plated with 4.5% copper.
So in other words, you should hoard the Canadian cents dated EARLIER than 1997.
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain. --- Robert Frost
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rainsonme
Penny Pincher Member
USA
183 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2009 : 22:45:57
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quote:
Originally posted by n/a
Not to steal realcents thunder but this is from his main page.
For our Canadian friends...Or anyone who has a bunch of Canadian cents or pennies and wants to know the metal content of these coins:
Before 1997: 98% copper, 1.75% zinc, 0.25% other metals
1997-2000: a zinc core, plated with copper
2001-present: core of 94% steel and 1.5% nickel, plated with 4.5% copper.
So in other words, you should hoard the Canadian cents dated EARLIER than 1997.
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain. --- Robert Frost
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Canadian Coin Copper Content
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