Canadian 5-cent coin · Edward VII
1908 Canadian 5 cents (nickel)
A 1908 Canadian 5-cent coin contains 0.0347 troy ounces of silver.
Silver value, Canadian dollars
0.0347 troy ounces at US$64.62 per ounce, converted at 1.3866 (Bank of Canada, 2026-09-11). At last page build
What the Mint says it is made of
| Period | Composition | Weight | Silver | Diameter | Magnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 - 1919 | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper | 1.167 g | 0.0347 ozt | 14.494 mm | not attracted |
How many were struck
Reported mintage, 1908
That is the 4th lowest of the 117 years in which the Mint reports striking a 5-cent coin, in a range running from 200,050 to 278,530,000. Mintage is a count of coins made, not of coins that survive: the Mint has no way of knowing how many of these were later returned and melted, and for a silver denomination in the 1960s that number is large.
Portrait on the obverse
Edward VII
Edward VII was His Majesty King Charles III’s great-great-grandfather. The Latin inscription appearing around him reads EDWARDVS VII DEI GRATIA REX IMPERATOR (or D:G REX IMPERATOR, depending on the denomination), both of which mean “Edward VII, by the grace of God, the King and Emperor. ”
What one actually sells for
This site publishes no catalogue values, because those belong to Charlton and the grading services and we have no licence to them. Completed sales are the honest substitute.
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.
The design on the reverse
1858 - 1921
The two crossed maple boughs appeared on all 5-cent coins from 1858 to 1921. These coins were nicknamed "fish scales" for their tiny size; their diameter is only 15.5 mm - smaller than the current dime!
The rest of your 1908 change
Nobody inherits one denomination. If there is a 1908 5-cent coin in the tin, these are the other coins carrying that date and whether they hold any silver.