1908 to 2012 · 105 years on record
The Canadian 1-cent coin
Struck from 1858 and withdrawn from circulation in 2012. Bronze, then plated zinc, then plated steel. It never contained silver.
Reported mintage, 1908 to 2012
35,257,341,680Coins struck across the 105 years the Mint reports. The Mint publishes no silver-bearing composition for this denomination in any of them, so there is nothing here to melt: what one is worth is a question about its date, its design and its condition.
Every composition, in the Mint’s own words
Where two periods overlap on a year, the metal changed during that year and both coins carry the same date. The silver column is calculated from the weight and fineness in the same row, not transcribed from anywhere.
| Years | Composition | Weight | Diameter | Silver | Magnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 - 1920 | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc | 5.67 g | 25.4 mm | none | not attracted |
| 1920 - 1941 | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc | 3.24 g | 19.05 mm | none | not attracted |
| 1942 - 1977 | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc | 3.24 g | 19.05 mm | none | not attracted |
| 1978 - 1979 | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc | 3.24 g | 19.05 mm | none | not attracted |
| 1980 - 1981 | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc | 2.8 g | 19 mm | none | not attracted |
| 1982 - 1996 | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc | 2.5 g | 19.1 mm | none | not attracted |
| 1997 - 1999 | 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating | 2.25 g | 19.05 mm | none | not attracted |
| 2000 to date | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating | 2.35 g | 19.05 mm | none | attracted |
Since 2000, the 1-cent coin can be produced using either the copper-plated steel or copper-plated zinc compositions.
Reading this denomination
Nothing in the Mint’s published record for this denomination contains silver. If you are sorting a jar for metal, these can go back in it.
The Mint reports coins struck in every year of its published record for this denomination, with no gaps.
Across the 105 years the Mint reports, 35,257,341,680 1-cent coins were struck. That is a count of coins made and not of coins that survive. Silver denominations in particular were withdrawn and melted in quantity once the metal was worth more than the face value, which is exactly what happened in Canada at the end of the 1960s.
Years on record
1908 to 2012
105 rows. The Mint’s table begins in 1908, the year the Ottawa mint opened. Earlier Canadian coins were struck in England and the Mint publishes no figures for them.
What one sells for
We publish no catalogue values. Completed sales are what people actually paid.
Completed sales, newest first, so you are looking at what buyers paid rather than what sellers are asking. Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it changes nothing on this page.
Every year
A filled underline marks a year with silver in it
- 1908
- 1909
- 1910
- 1911
- 1912
- 1913
- 1914
- 1915
- 1916
- 1917
- 1918
- 1919
- 1920
- 1921
- 1922
- 1923
- 1924
- 1925
- 1926
- 1927
- 1928
- 1929
- 1930
- 1931
- 1932
- 1933
- 1934
- 1935
- 1936
- 1937
- 1938
- 1939
- 1940
- 1941
- 1942
- 1943
- 1944
- 1945
- 1946
- 1947
- 1948
- 1949
- 1950
- 1951
- 1952
- 1953
- 1954
- 1955
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
Mintage by year
| Year | Mintage | Silver in one coin | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 199,347,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2011 | 662,750,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2010 | 486,200,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2009 | 455,680,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2008 | 787,625,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2007 | 846,420,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2006 | 1,261,883,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2005 | 767,425,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2004 | 842,486,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2003 | 748,123,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2002 | 830,040,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2001 | 928,434,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 2000 | 902,506,000 | none | 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating |
| 1999 | 1,089,625,000 | none | 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating |
| 1998 | 999,578,000 | none | 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating |
| 1997 | 549,868,000 | none | 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating |
| 1996 | 445,746,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1995 | 624,983,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1994 | 639,516,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1993 | 808,585,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1992 | 673,512,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1991 | 831,001,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1990 | 218,035,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1989 | 1,066,628,200 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1988 | 482,676,752 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1987 | 774,549,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1986 | 788,285,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1985 | 771,772,500 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1984 | 838,225,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1983 | 975,510,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1982 | 876,036,898 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1981 | 1,209,468,500 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1980 | 911,800,000 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1979 | 753,942,953 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1978 | 911,170,647 | none | 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc |
| 1977 | 453,050,666 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1976 | 701,122,890 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1975 | 642,618,000 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1974 | 692,058,489 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1973 | 457,058,489 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1972 | 451,304,591 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1971 | 298,228,936 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1970 | 344,145,010 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1969 | 335,240,929 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1968 | 329,695,772 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1967 | 345,140,645 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1966 | 183,644,388 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1965 | 304,441,082 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1964 | 484,655,322 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1963 | 279,076,334 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1962 | 227,244,069 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1961 | 139,598,404 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1960 | 75,772,775 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1959 | 83,615,343 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1958 | 59,385,679 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1957 | 100,601,792 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1956 | 78,685,535 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1955 | 56,403,193 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1954 | 22,181,760 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1953 | 67,806,016 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1952 | 67,631,736 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1951 | 80,430,379 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1950 | 60,444,992 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1949 | 33,128,933 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1948 | 25,767,779 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1947 | 74,949,349 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1946 | 56,662,071 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1945 | 77,268,591 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1944 | 44,131,216 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1943 | 89,111,969 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1942 | 76,113,708 | none | 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1941 | 56,336,011 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1940 | 85,740,532 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1939 | 21,600,319 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1938 | 18,365,608 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1937 | 10,090,231 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1936 | 8,768,769 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1935 | 7,526,400 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1934 | 7,042,358 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1933 | 12,079,310 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1932 | 21,316,190 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1931 | 3,842,776 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1930 | 2,538,613 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1929 | 12,159,840 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1928 | 9,144,860 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1927 | 3,553,928 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1926 | 2,143,372lowest 5 of 105 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1925 | 1,000,622lowest 1 of 105 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1924 | 1,593,195lowest 4 of 105 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1923 | 1,019,022lowest 2 of 105 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1922 | 1,243,635lowest 3 of 105 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1921 | 7,601,627 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1920 | 22,246,170 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc; or 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1919 | 11,279,634 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1918 | 12,970,798 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1917 | 11,899,254 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1916 | 11,022,367 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1915 | 4,932,134 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1914 | 3,405,958 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1913 | 5,735,405 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1912 | 5,107,642 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1911 | 4,663,486 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1910 | 5,146,487 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1909 | 3,973,339 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
| 1908 | 2,401,506 | none | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc |
Mintage is a count of coins struck in a calendar year. It is not a count of coins that still exist, and the Mint says so itself: there is no record of how many coins were later returned and melted. Treat a low figure as a hint about scarcity rather than as a measurement of it.