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Canadian fifty-cent coin

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Fifty cents
Canada
Value0.50 Canadian dollar
Mass6.9 g
Diameter27.13 mm
Thickness1.95 mm
EdgeMilled
CompositionNickel-plated steel
93.15% steel,
4.75% Cu,
2.1% Ni plating
Years of minting1870–present
Obverse
DesignCharles III, King of Canada
DesignerSteven Rosati[1]
Design date2023
Reverse
DesignCanadian coat of arms
DesignerCathy Bursey-Sabourin[2]
Design date1997

In Canada, the fifty-cent piece (French: pièce de cinquante cents canadienne) is a circulation coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint worth 50 cents, equal to 1⁄2 of a Canadian dollar. It features the Canadian coat of arms on the reverse and the effigy of the current reigning monarch on the obverse.

Though it is regularly minted, it is not made in large quantities (approximate annual average production of 150,000) and, since 2004, has only been available to the public directly from the mint.[3]

The denomination has seen limited public use since the mid-20th century due to low demand, yet it remains part of Canada's official currency system and appears in annual mint sets and commemorative releases.

The mint's website lists the 2007 50-cent coin as "rarely seen yet replete with tradition".[4][5]

History

[edit]

At the opening ceremonies for the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint on January 2, 1908, Governor General Earl Grey struck Canada's first domestically produced coin: a silver 50-cent coin bearing the effigy of King Edward VII.

The 50-cent coin bears the coat of arms given to Canada by King George V in 1921. The inscriptions included on the coin are:

  • A Mari usque ad Mare, 'From sea to sea'
  • Desiderantes Meliorem Patrium, 'They desire a better country'

Demand for 50-cent coins was low during the early to mid-1920s, and only 28,000 coins were issued between 1921 and 1929. When demand increased briefly in 1929, the master of the Ottawa Mint ordered the melting of the remaining 1920 and 1921 coins, totalling 480,392 pieces. The decision was based on concerns that releasing a large number of coins dated 1920 and 1921 might lead the public to suspect counterfeits. Approximately 75 examples of the 1921 issue are believed to survive, mostly from specimen sets sold at the time.

Although the denomination is rarely used in everyday transactions, it remains popular among coin collectors and within numismatic communities.[6]

In 2002, the Royal Canadian Mint made an unsuccessful attempt to promote circulation of the coin by issuing a special edition marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II. After this failed promotion, the mint ceased distributing 50-cent coins to banks. They are now available only in rolls or in numismatic sets sold directly by the mint, typically at twice their face value, for example $25 per roll of 25 coins.[7][8]

The royal effigy of King Charles III, introduced in 2023, was designed by Canadian artist Steven Rosati.[9]

Composition and size

[edit]
Years Mass Diameter Thickness Composition[10][11]
1870–1919 11.62 g 29.72 mm n/a 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
1920–1967 11.66 g 29.72 mm n/a 80% silver, 20% copper
1968–2000 8.10 g 27.13 mm 1.93 mm 99.9% nickel
2001–present 6.90 g 27.13 mm 1.95 mm 93.15% steel, 4.75% copper, 2.1% nickel plating

Circulation figures

[edit]

Victoria and Edward VII

[edit]
1871 Canadian 50-cent coin
Year Mintage Notes
1870 450,000[12]
1870 LCW[a]
1871 200,000[12]
1871 H[b] 45,000[12]
1872 H[b] 80,000[12] This figure includes the inverted "A" for "V" in Victoria variety.
1881 H[b] 150,000[12]
1888 60,000[12]
1890 H[b] 20,000[12]
1892 151,000[12]
1894 29,036[12]
1898 100,000[12]
1899 50,000[12]
1900 118,000[12]
1901 Victoria 80,000[12]
1902 Edward VII 120,000[13]
1903 H[b] 140,000[13]
1904 60,000[13]
1905 40,000[13]
1906 350,000[13]
1907 300,000[13]
1908 128,119[13]
1909 302,118[13]
1910 Victorian leaves 649,521[13][14] The leaves on the reverse were slightly modified.
1910 Edwardian leaves

George V and George VI

[edit]
A 1917 50-cent piece featuring King George V
A 1946 50-cent coin featuring King George VI
Year Mintage Notes
1911 no "Dei gra" 209,972[15] The words Dei gra (Latin for 'by the grace of God') were removed from the obverse of the coin to make room for Ind:Imp (Latin for 'Emperor of India').
1912 with "Dei gra" 285,867[16] "Dei gra" was later restored in 1912 after public backlash for "godless" coins.[17]
1913 265,889[16]
1914 160,128[16]
1916 459,070[16]
1917 752,213[16]
1918 754,989[16]
1919 1,113,429[16]
1920 584,691[18]
1921 Unknown[18] Only 75 to 100 coins are known to exist.
1929 228,328[18]
1931 57,581[18]
1932 19,213[18] As coin collecting was becoming widely popular, many of these coins were saved.
1934 39,539[18]
1936 38,550[18]
1937 192,016[19]
1938 192,018[19]
1939 287,976[19]
1940 1,996,566[19]
1941 1,714,874[19]
1942 1,974,164[19]
1943 3,109,583[19]
1944 2,460,205[19]
1945 1,959,528[19]
1946 950,235[19] This figure includes the "hoof in 6" variety.
1947 424,885[19][c]
1947 ML 38,433[19][c] Obverse Ind:Imp (Latin for 'Emperor of India') removed
1948 37,784[20]
1949 858,991[20] This figure includes the "hoof over 9" variety.
1950 2,384,179[20] This figure includes the "lines" and "no lines" in 0 varieties.
1951 2,421,730[20]
1952 2,596,465[20]

Elizabeth II

[edit]
1967 Canadian Centennial 50-cent coin (reverse side)
Year Mintage Notes
1953 no strap 1,630,429[21] This variety is also called with/without shoulder fold.
1953 strap
1954 506,305[21]
1955 753,511[21]
1956 1,379,499[21]
1957 2,171,689[21]
1958 2,957,266[21] Large reverse design, simple Canadian coat of arms
1959 3,095,535[22] Small reverse design, complete coat of arms
1960 3,488,897[22]
1961 3,584,417[22]
1962 5,208,030[22]
1963 8,348,871[22]
1964 9,377,676[22] 1st obverse portrait
1965 12,629,974[23] 2nd obverse portrait
1966 7,920,496[23] Last regular issue coin in silver
1967 4,211,392[24] Canadian Centennial; this coin features a howling wolf and is dated 1867–1967.
1968 3,966,932[25]
1969 7,113,929[25]
1970 2,429,526[25]
1971 2,166,444[25]
1972 2,515,632[25]
1973 2,546,096[25]
1974 3,436,650[25]
1975 3,710,000[25]
1976 2,940,719[25]
1977 709,839[26]
1978 3,341,892[27] This figure includes the "square" and "round" jewels varieties.
1979 3,425,000[27]
1980 1,574,000[27]
1981 2,690,272[27]
1982 2,236,674[27] This figure includes the "small" and "large" beads varieties.
1983 1,177,000[27]
1984 1,502,989[27]
1985 2,188,374[27]
1986 781,400[27]
1987 373,000[27] From this date forward, 50¢ coins were generally minted in smaller amounts.
1988 220,000[27]
1989 266,419[27] 2nd obverse portrait
1990 207,000[28] 3rd obverse portrait
1991 490,000[28]
1992 445,000[29] 125th anniversary of Confederation; this coin is dated 1867–1992.
1993 393,000[28]
1994 987,000[28]
1995 626,000[28]
1996 458,000[28]
1997 387,000[30] Revised Canadian coat of arms on the reverse
1998 308,000[30]
1999 496,000[30]
2000 559,000[30] Struck in nickel
2001 P[d] 389,000[31]
2002 P[d] (GJ) 14,440,000[32] (1952–2002) Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee
2003 P[d] — 50¢ coins minted since 2003 are not for circulation.[7]
2004 0[33]
2005 200,000[33]
2006 98,000[33]
2007 250,000[33]
2008 211,000[33]
2009 150,000[33]
2010 150,000[33]
2011 175,000[33]
2012 250,000[33]
2013 375,000[33]
2014 500,000[33]
2015 625,000[33]
2016 800,000[34]
2017 875,000[34] Includes sesquicentennial commemorative coin
2018 750,000[34]
2019 750,000[34]
2020 750,000[34]
2021 375,000[34]
2022 375,000[34]
2023 Undetermined[34]

Charles III

[edit]
Year Mintage Notes
2023 Undetermined[34] First year of issue with the effigy of King Charles III on the obverse
2024
  • Specimen 30,000
  • Proof 20,000[34]
 Available through mint rolls and sets
2025 Specimen 30,000[34] Available through mint rolls and sets
2026 Undetermined[34] Available through mint rolls and sets

Commemoratives

[edit]
Date Mintage Artist Reason
1998
43,269
 William Henry James Blakemore 90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint
1998
14,000
 F. G. Peter 110th anniversary of speed and figure skating
1998
14,000
 F. G. Peter 100th anniversary of ski racing
1998
56,428
 Friedrich Peter 110 years of Canadian soccer
1998
56,428
 Friedrich Peter 20 years of Canadian auto racing
1999
52,115
 D. H. Curley 95th anniversary of the 1904 Open Golf Championship
1999
52,115
 D. H. Curley 125th anniversary of the first Canadian vs US Yacht Race
1999
52,115
 D. H. Curley 100th anniversary of the first competition for the Grey Cup
1999
52,115
 D. H. Curley 60th anniversary of the invention of basketball
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes 125th anniversary of the first recorded modern hockey game
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes 240th anniversary of the introduction of curling to North America
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes 160th anniversary of the first steeplechase held in North America
2000
50,091
 Brian Hughes Birth of the first 5-pin bowling league
2002
65,315
 Thomas Shingles Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee; non-circulating silver proof)
2003
21,537
 Mary Gillick Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee)
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II – Battle of Britain
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II – Battle of Scheldt
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II – Battle of Sicily
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II – Battle of the Atlantic
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II – Liberation of the Netherlands
2005
20,000
 Peter Mossman 60th anniversary of the end of World War II – Raid of Dieppe
2008
3,248
 William Henry James Blakemore 100th anniversary of Royal Canadian Mint
2008
25,004
 Various[e] 100th anniversary of the Montreal Canadiens
2011
6,000
 William Henry James Blakemore 100th anniversary of George V on Canadian coins
2012
30,900
 Christie Paquet Elizabeth II (Diamond Jubilee)
2012
14,997
 Yves Bérubé 100th anniversary of Titanic
2012
5,988
 Christie Paquet 150th anniversary of the Cariboo Gold Rush
2013
24,967
 DC Comics 75th anniversary of Superman
2014
15,000
 Yves Bérubé 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland
2014
4,746
 Matthew Bowen 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Québec Conferences
2015
5,102
 Pierre Leduc 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag
2017
8,017
 N/a 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (Centennial Wolf; 2017 version)
2017
20,000
 Ariana Cuvin 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (Canada 150 logo; silver proof)
2017
4,000
 N/a 100th anniversary of the 50-cent coin
2018
4,000
 N/a 75th anniversary of George VI on the 1943 50-cent coin
2018
Unknown
 Steve McPhee 200th anniversary of the 49th Parallel
2019
2,500
 Thomas Shingles 60th anniversary of the 50-cent coin (1959–2019)
2021
250,000
 George Kruger Gray 100th anniversary of the Canadian Coat of Arms
2023
20,000
 Cathy Bursey-Sabourin Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee; silver proof)
2024
7,500
 Cathy Bursey-Sabourin Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee)

Collecting

[edit]

Known as the "king of Canadian coins", the 1921 Canadian 50-cent coin is rare, with a high-grade example (PCGS MS-66) having sold for US$227,546 in a January 2010 Heritage Auction.[35] The highest-graded specimen is graded by PCGS at MS-67 and was last sold (by Diverse Equities[36]) in the year 2000 to a private collector for the US$400,000.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ The "LCW" refers to the initials of the designer who made Victoria's bust (obverse side).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 The "H" on the coin refers to "Ralph Heaton & Sons".
  3. 1 2 This figure includes the "straight" and "curved" 7 varieties.
  4. 1 2 3 Struck in nickel-plated steel
  5. ↑ These coins came in a set of 6 (25,004 minted each) all celebrating the same theme.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Faces of the Monarch". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  2. ↑ "50-Cent Special Wrap Circulation Roll (2026)". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  3. ↑ "50 cents". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Royal Canadian Mint". Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Royal Canadian Mint". Archived from the original on June 22, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  6. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, p. 143, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  7. 1 2 Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Volume One, 67th Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, p. 194, ISBN 0-88968-354-9, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  8. ↑ "Special Wrap Circulation Coin Roll - 50 Cent - Mintage: 10,000 (2012)". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Royal Canadian Mint Unveils Canadian Effigy of His Majesty King Charles III". www.mint.ca/en. The Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  10. ↑ "From sea to sea – the 50-cent coin". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  11. ↑ Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins, 60th Anniversary Edition, W.K. Cross, Editor, pp. 139–153, ISBN 0-88968-297-6, The Charlton Press, Toronto
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 6 1870(no mint mark) LCW". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 12 1902(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 12a 1910(no mint mark) Edwardian leaves". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 19 1911 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 25 1912 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Canadian Coin News". Canadian Coin News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 25a 1920 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 36 1937 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 45 1948 (no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 53 1953(no mint mark) large date, straps". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 56 1959(no mint mark) horizontal shading". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  23. 1 2 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 63 1965(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  24. ↑ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 29, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000 (44th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 322. ISBN 978-1440246548.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 75.1 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 75.2 1977(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 75.3 1978(no mint mark) round jewels". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 185 1990(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 208 1992(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Canada 50 Cents KM# 290 1997(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 290b 1999 P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Canada 50 Cents KM# 444 1952-2002P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "50-cent Coin". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "50-cent Coin". Coins and Canada. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  35. ↑ coins.ha.com
  36. ↑ diverseequities.com
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