The Canadian Penny Discontinued
The announcement of the Canadian 1 cent coins discontinuation was met with mixed reviews. Some people were only too happy to have one less coin in their pocket but others saw the penny's demise as another way that they were going to become a penny or two poorer. A number of people struck a protectionist attitude toward having their beloved copper coin being removed from circulation.
On May 4th, 2012 the very last Canadian penny was minted and on February 4th, 2013 the penny's distribution in Canada came to an abrupt halt.The small copper coin which had been distributed within Canada since 1858 now slated to be sent back to the Royal Canadian mint to be melted down.
The Canadian government is encouraging individuals to turn in their pennies to the Canada Mint or donate them to charity. I encourage people to instead hold onto their Canadian 1 cent coins and to the wealth of Canadian and British history which lies upon their copper face. As these coins become rarer they are likely to become more valuable than their face value dictates.
Since the long gone days when Canada was under British rule the Canadian penny has featured the reigning royal on its face. Each one cent coin is a Canadian history lesson.
The first copper coins were minted in Britain in 1858. Queen Victoria was in power and her image graces the face of the Canadian penny until 1901. From 1902 to 1910 it is King Edward VII who's face appears on the front of the Canadian penny. King George V is on the Canadian copper coin from 1911 to 1936 when King George VI then rules the face of the Canadian 1 cent coin until 1952. From1953 to present the Canadian penny displays Elizabeth II on its face.
What happens now to the sayings associated with the penny? I have found a lot of lucky pennies and tucked them into my shoe for that little bit of added luck that they are reported to bring. I've heard often that a shiny penny is the best coin to toss into a wishing well, a penny for your thoughts, and tried often to get my two cents into a conversation.
The Canadian government is encouraging individuals to turn in their pennies to the Canada Mint or donate them to charity. I encourage people to instead hold onto their Canadian 1 cent coins and to the wealth of Canadian and British history which lies upon their copper face. As these coins become rarer they are likely to become more valuable than their face value dictates.
Since the long gone days when Canada was under British rule the Canadian penny has featured the reigning royal on its face. Each one cent coin is a Canadian history lesson.
The first copper coins were minted in Britain in 1858. Queen Victoria was in power and her image graces the face of the Canadian penny until 1901. From 1902 to 1910 it is King Edward VII who's face appears on the front of the Canadian penny. King George V is on the Canadian copper coin from 1911 to 1936 when King George VI then rules the face of the Canadian 1 cent coin until 1952. From1953 to present the Canadian penny displays Elizabeth II on its face.
I have learned over the years that a penny saved is a penny earned but I'm not sure if I can apply that same saying to our Canadian dollar. I recall being given ten pennies to buy a treat and the pleasure of penny candy. I have often scratched my lottery ticket with a lucky penny so it breaks my heart to know that the Canadian penny will be forever gone except for the coppers tucked away by collectors of these coins.
Rare and Collectible Canadian Pennies? There are many. A 1936 dot penny is exceptionally rare and one sold recently on auction for a whopping US $402,500. The Canadian penny with the bird on it was minted in 1967 to celebrate our 100 year Centennial and the bird is a rock dove. The copper content of Canadian pennies prior to 1996 make them worth keeping even if only for the value that the metal brings.
For sentimental value I'll be holding onto any pennies that I happen to stumble onto. Having a penny in my pocket makes me feel lucky and that is a feeling that no other coin can bring. I would just never want to be without a lucky penny when I needed one.
