1951 – 5 Cents Canada – Low Relief

The 1951 Canadian 5 cents coin in low relief is a steel coin plated with a thin layer of nickel and chromium, produced due to the Korean War’s demand for nickel which halted the production of the commemorative nickel refinery design. It features the traditional beaver design on the reverse and the obverse bears King George VI’s portrait, designed by T.H. Paget and engraved by Thomas Shingles. The low relief variety is distinguished by the position of the last “A” in “GRATIA” on the obverse, which points between the rim denticles rather than at one, as seen in the high relief variety. The coin has a 21.3 mm diameter (12-sided shape), weighs 4.54 grams, and has a plain edge. Its mintage was about 4,313,410 pieces, making it rarer than the commemorative nickel of that year but less rare than the high relief variety. The coin was made with a focus on ease of striking in steel, leading to lowered relief on the design features.