1941 – 1 Cent Canada

The 1941 Canadian 1-cent coin features the portrait of King George VI on the obverse, designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget, with the inscription “GEORGIVS VI D : G : REX ET IND : IMP,” meaning “George VI, by the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India.” The reverse showcases two maple leaves on the same twig, a design by G.E. Kruger-Gray that became an emblematic symbol of Canada and remained unchanged from 1937 through 1947. Composed of 95.5% copper, 3% tin, and 1.5% zinc, the coin weighs 3.24 grams and measures 19.05 mm in diameter. There were over 56 million of these coins minted by the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa in 1941. The coin was a standard circulation piece representing one cent, or one hundredth of a Canadian dollar, and remained in use until the Canadian penny was discontinued decades later.