Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1911-1920
Total Mintage: 93,262,848
Composition: 95% copper, 4% tin and 1% zinc
Diameter: 25.4 mm
Weight: 5.67 grams
Obverse Design: Wreath
Reverse Design: Bust
Unique Features:
Introduction
Canada produced large size cents from 1858 to 1920 and no Canadian coin collection would be complete without at least one large cent in their collection.
The last of Canada’s large cents is the George the V large cent produced from 1911 to 1920. Designed by Sir E. B. MacKennal , the obverse design features the bust of George the V encircled with the words "GEORGIVS V DEI GRA ET IND IMP". Designed by W. H. J. Blakemore, the reverse features a wreath that encircles the words "ONE CENT".
Just my Two Cents
Though more than 6,000,000 large cents were produced in 1920, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) decided to launch a new small cent in the same year. The new coin diameter measured 19mm versus 25.4mm for the large cent and carried the same bust portrait of George the V. If ordering through mail, or even a sight unseen internet site, be sure to ask if you are purchasing a large or small cent coin.
Another small change (no pun intended), had to do with composition. Part way through 1919, the RCM changed the composition slightly to 95.5% copper, 3% tin and 1,5% zinc for the final two years of the large cent and in the end created a set of varieties:
Variety 1 - Composition 1, 1911 to 1919
Variety 2 - Composition 2, 1919 to 1920
General Market Notes
In collector grades of Very Fine (VF) to Extra Fine (XF), all issues are affordable to collectors of all budgets.
