Dime (Canadian coin)
Encyclopedia
In Canada
a dime is a coin
worth ten cents
. It is the smallest (in physical size) of the currently issued Canadian coins. According to the Royal Canadian Mint
, the official national term of the coin is the 10 cent piece, but in practice the term dime is universal. It is nearly identical in size to the American dime
, but unlike its counterpart, the Canadian dime is magnetic due to a distinct metal composition: from 1968-99 it was composed entirely of nickel, and since 2000 it has had a high steel content.
Currently the dime has, as with all Canadian coins, a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen on the obverse. The reverse contains a representation of the Bluenose
, a famous Canadian schooner
. The artist, Emmanuel Hahn, used three ships including the Bluenose as his models, so the ship design is actually a composite.
The word "dime" comes from the French word "dîme", meaning "tithe
" or "tenth part," from the Latin
decima [pars].
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
a dime is a coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
worth ten cents
Cent (currency)
In many national currencies, the cent is a monetary unit that equals 1⁄100 of the basic monetary unit. Etymologically, the word cent derives from the Latin word "centum" meaning hundred. Cent also refers to a coin which is worth one cent....
. It is the smallest (in physical size) of the currently issued Canadian coins. According to the Royal Canadian Mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
, the official national term of the coin is the 10 cent piece, but in practice the term dime is universal. It is nearly identical in size to the American dime
Dime (United States coin)
The dime is a coin 10 cents, one tenth of a United States dollar, labeled formally as "one dime". The denomination was first authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. The dime is the smallest in diameter and is the thinnest of all U.S...
, but unlike its counterpart, the Canadian dime is magnetic due to a distinct metal composition: from 1968-99 it was composed entirely of nickel, and since 2000 it has had a high steel content.
Currently the dime has, as with all Canadian coins, a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen on the obverse. The reverse contains a representation of the Bluenose
Bluenose
Bluenose was a Canadian fishing and racing schooner from Nova Scotia built in 1921. She was later commemorated by a replica Bluenose II built in 1963. A celebrated racing ship and hard-working fishing vessel, Bluenose became a provincial icon for Nova Scotia as well as important Canadian symbol in...
, a famous Canadian schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
. The artist, Emmanuel Hahn, used three ships including the Bluenose as his models, so the ship design is actually a composite.
The word "dime" comes from the French word "dîme", meaning "tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
" or "tenth part," from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
decima [pars].
History of composition
| Years | Mass | Diameter/Shape | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–present | 1.75 g | 18.03 mm | 92.0% steel Steel Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten... (unspecified alloy), 5.5% copper Copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish... , 2.5% nickel Nickel Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile... plating |
| 1979–1999 | 2.075 g | 18.03 mm | 99.9% nickel |
| 1969–1978 | 2.07 g | 18.03 mm | 99.9% nickel |
| 1968 | 2.07 g 2.33 g |
18.03 mm 18.034 mm |
99.9% nickel (172.5M) 50% silver, 50% copper (70.4M) |
| 1967 | 2.33 g | 18.034 mm | 50% silver, 50% copper (30.6M) 80% silver, 20% copper (32.3M) |
| 1920–1966 | 2.33 g | 18.034 mm | 80% silver Silver Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal... , 20% copper |
| 1910–1919 | 2.33 g | 18.034 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
| 1858–1910 | 2.32 g | 18.034 mm | 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper |
Commemorative editions
| Year | Theme | Artist | Mintage | Special notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Canadian Centennial | Alex Colville | 62,998,215 | Features a mackerel Mackerel Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish, mostly, but not exclusively, from the family Scombridae. They may be found in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel , enter bays and can be... . |
| 2001 | International Year of the Volunteer | Stan Witten | 272,465,000 | Issued in honour of the United Nations' International Year of the Volunteer. |
Other notable dates
- 1936 dot: Extremely rare with only 5 known. There are 3 in private collections, grading Specimen-63, and 2 examples graded SP-68. The other 2, of the 5 known, are in a museum. The most recent of these to sell at auction was one of the SP68 coins, which brought US$184,000 in a HeritageHeritage AuctionsHeritage Auction Galleries is the world's largest collectibles auctioneer and the third largest auction house, with over $700 million in annual sales and 600,000 online bidder-members...
Auction in January 2010. - 1969 Large Date: Less than 20 examples of the large date variety exist. High grade versions of this coin sell for $15,000 to $30,000.
- 1999p: The first Canada 10 cent coin issued with the new plating "P" process. Plated coins are marked with a small "P" beneath the Queen's effigy on the obverse of the coin. Mintage is limited to 20,000 coins.
- 2000p: The 2000p Canada dime is scarce with less than 250 examples minted. The 2000p dime was lent to the vending industry by the Royal Canadian MintRoyal Canadian MintThe Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
to test the compatibility of the new plating process of circulation coins with existing vending machines and meters. Under contractual obligation, these coins were to be returned to the Mint once the compatibility tests were complete. Of the approximately 250 coins minted, many were not returned to the mint leading to significant debate surrounding the legality of owning these coins. High-grade examples of the 2000p 10 cent issue range from $1,500 to $15,000 CDN. Unlike the 5 cent 2000p issues, the 10 cent coin was not officially released by the Mint, and entered the numismatic market illegally and are still the property of the Royal Canadian MintRoyal Canadian MintThe Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
. The 25 cent 2000p caribou reverse is also an outstanding rarity. No more than 250 caribou reverse 2000p 25 cent pieces were minted, although few are known in existence. - 2001: A small number of volunteer coins were accidentally issued with a die break error, causing the lettering to bleed into the reeded edge of the coin.
First strikes
| Year | Theme | Mintage | Issue Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Bluenose | 1,861 | $14.95 |
| 2006 | With new mint mark | 5,000 | $29.95 |