5 denominations on record · George V on the obverse
Canadian coins dated 1920
4 of the 5 denominations struck in 1920 contain silver: 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents. The rest are base metal.
Silver value, Canadian dollars
0.5398 troy ounces at US$63.80 per ounce, converted at 1.3917 (Bank of Canada, 2026-09-15). At last page build
One of each silver denomination dated 1920: 4 coins, 0.90 dollars of face value, 0.5398 troy ounces of silver.
Every denomination dated 1920
| Coin | Composition in 1920 | Weight | Silver | Mintage | Magnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cent penny | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc | 5.67 g | none | 22,246,170 | not attracted |
| also struck as | 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc | 3.24 g | none | not attracted | |
| 5 cents nickel | 80% silver, 20% copper | 1.167 g | 0.0300 ozt | 10,649,851 | not attracted |
| 10 cents dime | 80% silver, 20% copper | 2.33 g | 0.0599 ozt | 6,305,345 | not attracted |
| 25 cents quarter | 80% silver, 20% copper | 5.83 g | 0.1500 ozt | 1,975,278 | not attracted |
| 50 cents half dollar | 80% silver, 20% copper | 11.66 g | 0.2999 ozt | 584,429 | not attracted |
More than one row for a denomination means the Mint records two compositions for that coin in 1920: the metal changed during the year, and coins of both kinds carry this date. They are frequently indistinguishable without a scale or a magnet.
If you have a handful of them
The richest silver standard for each denomination dated 1920, and what a dollar of face value in each holds. Face value is how the bullion trade actually prices bags of circulated Canadian silver.
What was on the coins
1 cent
This 1-cent coin features the design of L.C. Wyon of the Royal Mint. It portrays maple leaves wrapped around a vine. W.H.J. Blackmore designed this reverse of the 1-cent coin. The representation of maple leaves wrapped around a vine was kept.
1 cent
This design, created by Fred Lewis, coincided with a reduction in the 1-cent coin's diameter.
5 cents
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!
10 cents
The design of two crossed maple boughs appear on all 10-cent, 25-cent, and 50-cent coins from 1858 to 1936.
25 cents
The 25-cent coin was first issued in 1870. The coin used the same design of two crossed maple boughs that appeared on the 10-cent coins and 50-cent coins from 1858 to 1936.
50 cents
The design of two crossed maple boughs appears on all 10-cent, 25-cent, and 50-cent coins from 1858 to 1936.
Whose portrait is on it
A Canadian coin dated 1920 carries the effigy of George V, used from 1911 to 1936.
George V was the great-grandfather of His Majesty King Charles III and appeared with the Latin inscription GEORGIVS V DEI GRA:REX ET IND:IMP, which means “George V, by the grace of God, the King and Emperor of India.” For part of 1911, coins did not include the DEI GRA part of the inscription and became known as the “Godless” coins.
What 1920 coins sell for
Completed sales rather than a catalogue value, because we do not publish catalogue values.
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