Canadian Nickel
The value of a canadian coin depends on several factors such as quality and wear, supply and demand, rarity, finish and more. Values in the section are based on the market, trends, auctions and recognized books, publications and catalogs. This section also includes information on history, errors, varieties, characteristics and more. The Canadian five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a coin worth five cents or one-twentieth of a Canadian dollar. It was patterned on the corresponding coin in the neighbouring United States. It became the smallest-valued coin in the currency upon the discontinuation of the penny in 2013.
>Find valuable buying/selling information on several (29) of the most popular Canadian silver coins in my book The Last Canadian 80 Percent Silver Coins. Available as an eBook.
Silver Canadian coins have a most interesting history. The coins that were minted at London's Royal Mint beginning in 1858 were five-cent, ten-cent and twenty-cent coins containing 92.5 percent silver. In 1870, the twenty-five cent coin (silver Canadian quarter) replaced the twenty-cent coin and the fifty-cent coin (silver Canadian half-dollar) was introduced.
Some of these early silver coins were minted by the Heaton Mint (a privately owned mint located in Birmingham, England) and bear the 'H' mint mark. In 1908, the Royal Canadian Mint was established to begin production of Canada's coins.
Silver coins with 92.5 percent silver fineness...
Canadian Dime(1858-1919): Silver Content=.0690-.0694 Troy ounces*
Canadian Twenty-Cent Coin(1858): Silver Content=.1382 Troy ounces*
Canadian Quarter(1870-1919): Silver Content=.1728-.1734 Troy ounces*
Canadian Half-Dollar(1870-1919): Silver Content=.3456 Troy ounces*
*The silver content for the above coins are for uncirculated coins. Circulated coins have a slightly lower silver content due to their wear from daily commerce.
Due to the rising price of silver after World War I, the Canadian government made the decision to reduce the amount of silver in their coins from the sterling silver content of 92.5 percent to 80 percent. This started in 1920 and continued until 1967. More information on these coins...
Silver coins with 80 percent silver fineness...
Canadian Quarters(1920-1967): Silver Content=.1463 Troy ounces (circulated), .1500 uncirculated
Canadian Half-Dollars(1920-1967): Silver Content=.2925 Troy ounces (circulated), .3000 uncirculated
Canadian Dollars(1936-1967): Silver content=.600 Troy ounces.
Sampling of Canadian Eighty-Percent Silver Coins
Canadian Nickels containing silver were discontinued after 1921. 1967 was the last year Silver Canadian Dollars and Half Dollars were struck for general circulation.
Companies That Mine Nickel
By mid-1967, Canada reduced the silver content of the Canadian Dime and Canadian Quarter from 80 to 50 percent. Unfortunately there is no practical way to determine which coins contain 80 percent silver versus those containing only 50 percent silver.
Silver coins with 50 percent silver fineness...
Canadian Quarter(1967-1968): Silver Content=.0937 Troy ounces, Gross Wt.=5.81 grams
By mid-1968, silver was removed from all Canadian circulating coins of these denominations.
To determine the approximate silver melt value of a Silver Canadian Coin, multiply the amount of silver (in Troy ounces) by the current spot price of silver. The chart at right shows the current spot price of one troy ounce of silver in Canadian dollars. To see the current spot silver price in U.S. dollars, go to the Silver Investing Guide Home page.
Example: The approximate value of a Silver Canadian dollar with the spot price of silver at $32.00 Canadian is $19.20 CAD ($32.00 x .6) plus the current premium.
Canadian Silver on Amazon
If you live in Canada, a likely starting point for your purchases would be at your local coin shop. If you are a U.S. citizen or a Canadian visiting the U.S., you may have better luck at a coin shop in one of the states bordering Canada as I have found a majority of coin shops in the U.S. are a 'little light' on their knowledge and inventory of Canadian coins. If you have trouble don't overlook Amazon. Here you can find circulated and uncirculated coins sold in quantities of one or in small lots.
Silver coins, especially in smaller denominations, can be useful in barter situations. You would be wise to have some in your possession. For your convenience, I have included a sampling of silver Canadian coins available on Amazon. You might be able to pick up some nice coins at a decent price. Be aware I receive a small compensation if you buy through this site which does not result in you paying more. Click on 'Go' to see a larger selection.
Disclaimer:I have made every reasonable effort to produce an informative and helpful article on Canadian silver coins based on my research and experiences. However, I make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to its completeness, accuracy or suitability for any specific situation or purpose. See Terms and Conditions for more info.