National Currency Collection

Canada, Victoria, 1 cent : 1858

Story

A logical currency system

In 1858 the Province of Canada (Québec and Ontario) officially bid farewell to the pounds and shillings of its British superiors, choosing a decimal base for its first coin issue. It was another step on the way to independence and the other British North American colonies soon did the same. Not only was it a simpler and more logical system, it was the one used by the U.S. The Bank of Montreal had been issuing notes in dollar denominations since 1817.

Item Details

Categorization

Collection
Coin
Class
Modern
Name
Base metal
Form
Circulating

Locations

Country
Canada
Province
Province of Canada

Denominations

1 cent

Dates

Issuing date
1858

Authorities

Ruler
Victoria

Issuing authority
Province of Canada

Designs

Subject Obverse
Victoria - queen - monarchy

Production Types

Mint
Royal Mint
Mark
None

Designer
Leonard C. Wyon
Mark
None

Specifications

Edge Treatment
Plain edge

Measurements

Object

Diameter
25.6mm

Materials

Object
Copper