Canadian Five Cent Varieties
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This page shows the major die varieties since Canadian coins were introduced in 1858. It does NOT cover "die blunders", where dies were re-punched
with different years (and the previous number is visible below the current number), or where cracks appeared in the dies causing unwanted lines
to appear in the coin. It also does not cover date doubling or special coins created for the collector market. All of the coin designs displayed here were
manufactured for general circulation as legal tender. NOTE: Click on any photo to load a much larger version of the same photo |
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1908 5 Cent Canadian Coin Variety Identification Click here to download a PDF copy Click the image below to view a full screen version, then click again to view a full SIZED version: 
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Click the image below to view a full screen version, then click again to view a full SIZED version: 
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1922, 29, 32, 34, 36 Reverse Varieties  There are two main varieties of this coin that occurred during the years 1922, 1929, 1932, 1934 and 1936. These varieties refer to the position of the 'S' in 'CENTS' relative to the rim. Because this difference is so hard to distinguish, many of the dates are worth the same, regardless of the position of the 'S'. |
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1926 Reverse Varieties In 1926 there are two varieties; the 'near 6' and the 'far 6'. This refers to the location of the '6' in '1926' relative to the maple leaf. Near '6' is the more common of the two and can be identified by the fact that the '6' nearly touches the maple leaf. The Far '6' is much more scarce.  |
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1932 Reverse Varieties In 1932 there are two varieties; the 'near 2' and the 'far 2'. This refers to the location of the '2' in '1932' relative to the maple leaf. Near '2' is the more common of the two and can be identified by the fact that the '2' nearly touches an imaginary line drawn between the lowermost points on the bottom leaf on each side of the date. In addition, the distance between the "3" and the "2" is quite different between the two varieties (as shown above with the yellow rectangles). The Far '2' is much more scarce.  |
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1951 Obverse/Reverse Varieties For the 1951 standard Beaver design, in the attempt to increase die life a few minor changes were made to the dies. The relief needed to produce the King's image was reduced (made shallower) and the beads were made smaller. The primary way to tell the difference is to look at the "A" in "GRATIA". On the High Relief coins the top of the "A" points to a rim denticle, whereas on the Low Relief coin it points between two denticles. 
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1953 Varieties Variety 1: NSF-Far (No Shoulder Fold, Far Leaf) When the first coins of Elizabeth appeared in 1953, it was noticed that her shoulder appeared to be bare. This resulted from the fold of cloth on her shoulder being too weakly engraved into the dies to strike up well with only traces or none visible on most coins. These are known as the no-shoulder-strap or no-shoulder fold variety, usually abbreviated as NSS or NSF, but the best way to identify them is by "I"'s in the obverse inscription which have a distinct flare at both the top and bottom. There is also a slightly wider (than on the later type) gap between the small maples leaf's to the upper right and left and the denticles around the rim, which is why these are known as the "far leaf" variety, although the entire design is slightly smaller and the date is also further from the rim. Variety 2: SF-Near (Shoulder Fold, Near Leaf) To correct the bare shouldered look, part way through 1953 new dies were prepared with a deeper shoulder fold that struck up better and at the same time the shape of the "I"'s in the inscription were changed to straighter without that distinct flare. These are known as the shoulder-strap (abbreviated SS) or shoulder-fold (SF) variety. On the reverse the entire design was made slightly larger resulting in a smaller gap between the maples leaves and the denticles (they nearly touch the denticles) so this is known as the "near leaf" variety", although because the design is bigger the date is also closer to the rim. 1953 Mule Varieties Due to incorrect die pairing a small number of 1953 five cent coins exist as either "SF far leaf" or "NSF near leaf" varieties, commonly called the SF mule and NSF mule. Variety 3: SF-Far (Shoulder Fold, Far Leaf) - "Mule" Error Variety 4: NSF-Near (No Shoulder Fold, Near Leaf) "Mule" Error. This mule variety is much rarer than the SF-Far one.   |
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1964 Extra Water Line Reverse Variety and Spitting (Whistling) Queen Obverse Variety - One 1964 reverse die developed a heavy die crack above the water lines to the left of the beaver. The die crack looks like an extra waterline, resulting in the extra waterline (XWL) variety. - Some 1964 5 cent pieces have a variety that was created by a die clash that looks like the Queen is spitting or whistling. 
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1977 High/Low 7 Reverse Varieties 1977 saw some dies with the last 7 in the date a little lower than the rest of the digits, creating "low 7" and "high 7" varieties. On circulation (MS) strikes both high and low 7's occur with the high 7 variety the scarcer of the two. In Proof-like and specimen sets only the high 7 occurs so while scarcer in MS strikes it is not a scarce variety overall.  |
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1996 Near/Far 6 Reverse Varieties There are near and far 6 varieties of the 1996 nickel, defined by the space between the tail of the 6 and the D of CANADA. All Proof sets, Specimen sets and pliofilm UNC mint sets contain the near 6 variety, but both varieties can be found in regular circulation strike coins.  |
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