1996 – 1 Cent Canada

The 1996 Canadian 1 cent coin is a business strike coin composed of 98% copper, 0.5% tin, and 1.5% zinc, weighing 2.5 grams with a diameter of 19.1 mm and having a plain edge. The obverse features a bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a circular diamond crown, designed by Dora de Pédery-Hunt, while the reverse shows two maple leaves on the same twig, designed by G. E. Kruger-Gray. This coin had a mintage of approximately 445,746,000 for circulation and 112,835 proof coins, with a melt value of about $0.03 CAD as of 2025. Although most 1996 pennies are common, there are some rarer copper planchet varieties and error coins sought by collectors that can be worth more. The coin remains a classic symbol of Canadian heritage before the penny was discontinued in 2013.