2003-2012 - Elizabeth II - Canadian Cent
Copper Plated Zinc
KM# 490
In Canada, a penny is a coin worth one cent, or 1⁄100 of a dollar. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the official national term of the coin is the "one-cent piece", but in practice the terms penny and cent predominate. Originally, "penny" referred to a two-cent coin. When the two-cent coin was discontinued, penny took over as the new one-cent coin's name. Penny was likely readily adopted because the previous coinage in Canada (up to 1858) was the British monetary system, where Canada used British pounds, shillings, and pence as coinage alongside U.S. decimal coins and Spanish milled dollars.
Production of the penny ceased in May 2012, and the Royal Canadian Mint ceased the distribution of them as of February 4, 2013. However, like all discontinued currency in the Canadian monetary system, the coin remains legal tender. Once distribution of the coin ceased, though, vendors no longer were expected to return pennies as change for cash purchases, and were encouraged to round purchases to the nearest nickel. Non-cash transactions are still denominated to the cent.
REF
Source: en.numista.com
1 Cent - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; non-magnetic
KM# 490
Country Canada
Years 2003-2012
Value 1 Cent
0.01 CAD = 0.0093 USD
Metal Copper-plated Zinc
Weight 2.25 g
Diameter 19.05 mm
Thickness 1.45 mm
Engravers Susanna Blunt (obverse)
George Edward Kruger Gray (reverse)
Shape Round
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
REF
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Mass 2.25 g
Diameter 19.05 mm
Shape round
Composition 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating
* Although the RCM states 2000 as the year of transition from zinc to steel, zinc-core cents were issued in every year of the 2000s, except 2008. Steel cents dated before 2002 are test pieces for calibrating coin-operated machines, and are very rare in circulation.
REF
Other Reference:
typesets.wikidot.com 1953-2012 Elizabeth II Maple Leaf Cent