1959 – 5 Cents Canada

The 1959 Canadian 5 cents coin, commonly called a nickel, weighs 4.54 grams and has a diameter of 21.21 millimeters with a plain smooth edge. It is composed of 99.9% nickel and was minted by the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa with a mintage of about 11.5 million. The obverse design features a bust of Queen Elizabeth II wearing a laurel wreath, created by Mary Gillick, with the legend “ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA.” The reverse design, by G. E. Kruger-Gray, depicts a beaver sitting on a log flanked by two small maple leaves, an iconic Canadian symbol, and the inscription “5 CENTS CANADA 1959.” The coin is magnetic and was produced primarily for circulation, with uncirculated specimens also available and valued by collectors. Its melt value as of 2025 is approximately 12 cents Canadian, reflecting the nickel content. This coin marked one of the early portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on Canadian coinage, introduced in the 1950s after her accession in 1952.