Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Cent 2003-2012, KM# 490, Canada, Elizabeth II
  • 1 Cent 2003-2012, KM# 490, Canada, Elizabeth II
Description

During the 2003 production run the obverse was changed to feature a new, more mature looking effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Susanna Blunt and Susan Taylor. The policy of marking plated coins with a "P" continued. By 2006 all one cent pieces were manufactured using the plated steel process, so it was no longer necessary to differentiate them with the "P" marking. Instead, the new stylized logo for the Royal Canadian Mint took it's place below the Queen's effigy.

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 1926–2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and of 14 other Commonwealth realms. Her reign of 70 years and seven months, which began on 6 February 1952, was the longest of any British monarch in history.

When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), as well as Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities and withdrawal from the European Union. The number of her realms varied over time as territories have gained independence and some realms have become republics.

Times of personal significance have included the births and marriages of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, her coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum jubilees in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively.

Obverse

Fourth portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II, when she was 77 years old, facing right and surrounded by the inscription.

Dei Gratia Regina (often abbreviated to D. G. Regina and seen as D·G·REGINA) is a Latin title meaning By the Grace of God, Queen.

Engraver: Susanna Blunt

ELIZABETH II D·G·REGINA

Reverse

A maple leaf twig is surrounded by the facial value, date and the inscription CANADA.

In 1834 the St. Jean-Baptiste Society, a French-Canadian patriotic group, adopted the maple leaf as their group symbol. In 1836 the newspaper "Le Canadien" named the maple leaf the official symbol of Canada, and by 1860 members of the Regiment of Royal Canadians were sporting the leaf on their badges. The leaf was featured on both the British and French-Canadian coat of arms, and it's been used on currency since the end of the 19th century. It was also a Canadian military symbol during both World Wars. The maple was designated as Canada's national tree in 1996.

Engraver: George Edward Kruger Gray

1 CENT
2005
K•G
CANADA

Edge

1 Cent

4th portrait, Non-magnetic
KM# 490 Schön# 518a
Characteristics
Material Copper Plated Zinc
Weight 2.25 g
Diameter 19.05 mm
Thickness 1.45 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mints
Royal Canadian Mint (Maple Leaf)
Royal Canadian Mint (P)
Royal Canadian Mint (RCM)

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