Canadian Fifty Cent Reverse Designs and Coin Specifications
Reverse Designs
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This page shows the major die designs 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. In recent decades, the fifty-cent circulation coin has not been widely used in day-to-day transactions, yet it remains popular with coin collectors. NOTE: Click on any photo to load a much larger version of the same photo |
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The crossed maple boughs (Victorian Leaves) Designed by Leonard C. Wyon, The two crossed maple boughs appeared on all 50-cent coins from 1870 to 1901, but there were a few different die varieties (all related to the size of the digits in the date). |
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The crossed maple boughs (Victorian Leaves) Designed by Leonard C. Wyon. The same crossed maple boughs reverse that was used between 1870 and 1901 was continued, but the typeface and type size were changed. Note: The coins for the 1903 production year were struck at the Heaton Mint, therefore the "H" mark was added below the bow at the bottom of the coin's reverse. |
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The crossed maple boughs (Edwardian leaves) Designed by Leonard C. Wyon and W.H.J. Blakemore. During the 1910 production run new reverse dies were created and received. The same basic design was continued, but the rim was widened, and a few subtle changes were made to some of the leaves. The most noticeable changes were to the outer leaves to the right of the date. The new design featured shorter, more curved points and more space between the leaf and the rim denticles. IMPORTANT NOTE: We have produced a two page infographic which explains the differences between these varieties in a much more explicit way. Click on these images to view them in full screen. Once loaded, click each image again to view in full size:  
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The simplified Coat of Arms Designed by G. E. Kruger-Gray, a simplified version of Canada's coat of arms was created in 1937 for the 50-cent coin as part of an initiative to modernize Canada's circulation coins. The 50-cent coin bears the Canadian Coat of Arms. It honours the four founding nations of Canada: England, Scotland, Ireland and France. IMPORTANT NOTE: A very large number of varieties exist (HUNDREDS of them!), the vast majority of which relate to the size and location of the digits in the date. In the 61st Edition of the Charlton Standard Catalog of Canadian Coins, the varieties section covers 50 cent coins. They had to write 65 pages just to cover the years between 1941 and 1956. In 1943 alone there are 36 different varieties. |
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The Revised Coat of Arms When Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, the obverse of the coin had to be changed. The Queen's head tended to draw too much metal to that side of the coin at the time of the strike, so on the reverse side the crown at the top of the shield tended to lose some detail. In 1955 the reverse was modified by using a smaller version of the coat of arms. |
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The Modified Coat of Arms The current design was produced by former Royal Canadian Mint engraver Thomas Shingles and was first used in 1959. A ribbon was added below the coat of arms that reads "A MARE USQUE AD MARE" which translates to "From Sea to Sea". Below the ribbon is a stylized set of crossed branches which contain an English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock and French Fleur-de-lis. |
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Designed by Alex Coleville. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Confederation, Alex Colville created a special set of designs for all coin denominations. The fifty-cent coin features a howling wolf. These were the last of the silver fifty cent coins. |
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The Modified Coat of Arms The coat of arms design was resumed in 1968, however the decision was made to end the use of silver alloys in favour of pure nickel. To make the new nickel coins easier to strike, the fifty cent pieces were reduced in diameter (from 29.72mm to 27.13mm). |
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The Modified Coat of Arms 1977 was a year of major changes to both sides of the fifty cent piece. The coat of arms was dramatically reduced in size, and for the first time beads instead of denticles were placed around the rim. |
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The Modified Coat of Arms Designed by Thomas Shingles, in 1978 the beaded rim was dropped and a design essentially the same as the 1968 - 1976 design was restored. |
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The Coat of Arms Designed by Thomas Shingles, the reverse design is the same as the 1978-1989 coins. |
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The Coat of Arms Designed by Thomas Shingles, the 1992 issue was modified to change the date to read "1867 1992" in honour of Canada's 125th anniversary. |
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The Redesigned Coat of Arms Designed by C. Bursey-Sabourin and William Woodruff, the new reverse design added the motto "DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM" which translates to "They desire a better country" on a ribbon behind the shield. The mantling shows a series of overlapping stylized maple leaves. The arrangement of the English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock and French fler-de-lis was modified, and extends the width of the motto. |
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Anniversary of Elizabeth II Coronation Designed by C. Bursey-Sabourin and William Woodruff. In 2002, two special sets of dies were used to produce all Canadian fifty cent coins. The regular issue moved the date to the obverse side of the coin, and changed it to read "1952 2002" Note the space between the dates compared to the Jubilee issue which uses a dash (-). |
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Anniversary of Elizabeth II Coronation Designed by C. Bursey-Sabourin and William Woodruff. In 2002, two special sets of dies were used to produce all Canadian fifty cent coins. The "Jubilee" issue moved the date below the coat of arms, and changed it to read "1952-2002" Note the dash (-) between the dates compared to the regular issue which uses a space. |
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While the standard Coat of Arms design was used for the classic 50 cent coin (only produced for the "Classic Canadian Coin Set"), a special series of circulation coins
were produced to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. The Sesquicentennial 50 cent coin To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the reverse of the fifty cent coin features the Canada 150 logo. |
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100th Anniversary of Canada's Coat of Arms This is a modern reproduction of the 50-cent coin issued in 1937. It was the first coin to feature Canada's Coat of Arms, which was originally adopted 100 years ago (1921) by proclamation of King George V. This design features G. E. Kruger Gray's simplified version of Canada's Coat of Arms that first appeared on the 50-cent circulation coin in 1937. |
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