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The maple leaf is a proud and distinctive Canadian symbol, appearing on all Canadian coins minted between Confederation and 1935. The modern 1-cent coin features two maple leaves on the same twig. The design, created by G.E. Kruger-Gray, was first used in 1937 and remained unchanged with one exception: in 1967, a rock dove designed by renowned Canadian artist Alex Colville appeared on the reverse to celebrate Canada's Centennial. Countess Grey struck the first 1-cent coin on January 2, 1908 at the official opening of the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint, which became the Royal Canadian Mint in 1931.

Reverse Side Designs

1858 – 1920

The maple leaf wreath

1858 – 1911

This 1-cent coin features the design of L.C. Wyon of the Royal Mint. It portrays maple leaves wrapped around a vine.

1911 – 1920

W.H.J. Blackmore designed this reverse of the 1-cent coin. The representation of maple leaves wrapped around a vine was kept.

1920 – 1936

The two maple leaves

This design, created by Fred Lewis, coincided with a reduction in the 1-cent coin's diameter.

1937 – 1966, 1968 – 1981, 1997 – present

The maple leaf twig (round coin)

In 1937, as part of an effort to modernize Canada's coins, G.E. Kruger-Gray created the maple leaf twig design. His initials appear on the right.

1967

The centennial 1-cent coin

Alex Colville created a special set of coin designs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation; the penny features a rock dove in flight.

1982 – 1996

The maple leaf twig (12-sided coin)

The shape of the maple leaf twig was altered to make identification easier for the visually impaired. The coin reverted to the round design in 1997.

Technical Specifications

1908 – 1920

Composition: 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 5.67
Diameter (mm): 25.4
Thickness (mm): n/a

1920 – 1941

Composition: 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.65

1942 – 1977

Composition: 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.65

1978 – 1979

Composition: 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.52

1980 – 1981

Composition: 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 2.8
Diameter (mm): 19
Thickness (mm): 1.45

1982 – 1996

Composition: 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 2.5
Diameter (mm): 19.1
Thickness (mm): 1.45

1997 – 1999

Composition: 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating
Weight (g): 2.25
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.45

2000 – present*

Composition: 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating
Weight (g): 2.35
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.45

*Note: Since 2000, the 1-cent coin can be produced using either the copper-plated steel or copper-plated zinc compositions.

Mintages

1908 – 1909

Year	Mintage
1908	2,401,506
1909	3,973,339

1910 – 1919

Year	Mintage
1910	5,146,487
1911	4,663,486
1912	5,107,642
1913	5,735,405
1914	3,405,958
1915	4,932,134
1916	11,022,367
1917	11,899,254
1918	12,970,798
1919	11,279,634

1920 – 1929

Year	Mintage
1920	22,246,170
1921	7,601,627
1922	1,243,635
1923	1,019,022
1924	1,593,195
1925	1,000,622
1926	2,143,372
1927	3,553,928
1928	9,144,860
1929	12,159,840

1930 – 1939

Year	Mintage
1930	2,538,613
1931	3,842,776
1932	21,316,190
1933	12,079,310
1934	7,042,358
1935	7,526,400
1936	8,768,769
1937	10,090,231
1938	18,365,608
1939	21,600,319

1940 – 1949

Year	Mintage
1940	85,740,532
1941	56,336,011
1942	76,113,708
1943	89,111,969
1944	44,131,216
1945	77,268,591
1946	56,662,071
1947	74,949,349
1948	25,767,779
1949	33,128,933

1950 – 1959

Year	Mintage
1950	60,444,992
1951	80,430,379
1952	67,631,736
1953	67,806,016
1954	22,181,760
1955	56,403,193
1956	78,685,535
1957	100,601,792
1958	59,385,679
1959	83,615,343

1960 – 1969

Year	Mintage
1960	75,772,775
1961	139,598,404
1962	227,244,069
1963	279,076,334
1964	484,655,322
1965	304,441,082
1966	183,644,388
1967	345,140,645
1968	329,695,772
1969	335,240,929

1970 – 1979

Year	Mintage
1970	344,145,010
1971	298,228,936
1972	451,304,591
1973	457,058,489
1974	692,058,489
1975	642,618,000
1976	701,122,890
1977	453,050,666
1978	911,170,647
1979	753,942,953

1980 – 1989

Year	Mintage
1980	911,800,000
1981	1,209,468,500
1982	876,036,898
1983	975,510,000
1984	838,225,000
1985	771,772,500
1986	788,285,000
1987	774,549,000
1988	482,676,752
1989	1,066,628,200

1990 – 1999

Year	Mintage
1990	218,035,000
1991	831,001,000
1992	673,512,000
1993	808,585,000
1994	639,516,000
1995	624,983,000
1996	445,746,000
1997	549,868,000
1998	999,578,000
1999	1,089,625,000

2000 – 2009

Year	Mintage
2000	902,506,000
2001	928,434,000
2002	830,040,000
2003	748,123,000
2004	842,486,000
2005	767,425,000
2006	1,261,883,000
2007	846,420,000
2008	787,625,000
2009	455,680,000

2010 – 2012

Year	Mintage
2010	486,200,000
2011	662,750,000
2012	199,347,000