1969 – 5 Cents Canada

The 1969 Canadian 5 cents coin, often called a nickel, is made of pure nickel with a weight of 4.54 grams and a diameter of 21.21 mm. It features on the obverse the right-facing bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a tiara, designed by Arnold Machin, with the inscription “ELIZABETH II D – G – REGINA.” The reverse side of the coin presents a beaver sitting on a log, a design by G. E. Kruger-Gray, surrounded by the inscription “5 CENTS CANADA 1969,” flanked by maple leaves. The coin has a plain edge and a medal alignment axis. It was struck by the Royal Canadian Mint with a mintage of over 27 million and was released primarily for circulation in nickel composition, showing characteristics typical of business strike coins from that period. This coin is magnetic and retains a melt value of approximately 12 Canadian cents as of mid-2025.