In Canada, a dime is a coin worth ten cents. It has been the physically smallest Canadian coin since 1922; it is smaller even than the country's penny, despite its higher face value. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the official national term of the coin is the 10-cent piece, but in practice, the term dime predominates in English-speaking Canada. It is nearly identical in size to the American dime. Unlike its American counterpart, the Canadian dime is magnetic due to a distinct metal composition. From 1968 to 2000, it was composed entirely of nickel, and since 2001, it has consisted of a steel core with plating composed of layers of nickel and copper.

Dime
Canada
Value0.10 Canadian dollar
Mass1.75 g
Diameter18.03 mm
Thickness1.22 mm
EdgeMilled
CompositionNickel-plated steel
92% steel,
5.5% Cu,
2.5% Ni plating
Years of minting1858–present
Catalog number
Obverse
DesignElizabeth II, Queen of Canada
DesignerSusanna Blunt
Design date2003
Design discontinued2023
DesignCharles III, King of Canada
DesignerSteven Rosati
Design date2023
Reverse
DesignBluenose schooner
DesignerEmanuel Hahn; design based on photographs of the Bluenose[1]
Design date1937

The most prevalent version of the coin features a portrait of Elizabeth II on the obverse, although a new version featuring Charles III was introduced in 2023. The reverse contains a representation of the Bluenose, a famous Canadian schooner. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, "Artist Emanuel Hahn developed his design for the 10-cent coin from photos of the famous Bluenose schooner."[1] The coin is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint at its facility in Winnipeg.

The word dime comes from the French word dîme, meaning "tithe" or "tenth part", from the Latin decima [pars].

History

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Composition and size

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Years Mass Diameter Composition[1]
1858–1919 2.33 g 18.034 mm 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
1920–1967 2.33 g 18.034 mm 80% silver, 20% copper
1967–1968[2][3][4] 2.33 g 18.03 mm 50% silver, 50% copper
1968–1977 2.07 g 18.03 mm 99.9% nickel
1978–2000 2.07 g 18.03 mm 99.9% nickel
2001–present[a] 1.75 g 18.03 mm 92.0% steel (AISI 1006 alloy[6]),
5.5% copper, 2.5% nickel plating

Circulation figures

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An 1858 dime featuring Queen Victoria
A 1917 dime featuring King George V
A 1947 dime featuring King George VI

Elizabeth II

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A 1955 dime featuring Queen Elizabeth II
A 1974 dime featuring an older Queen Elizabeth II
Year Mintage
1953 No strap 17,706,395[7]
1953 Strap
1954 4,493,150[7]
1955 12,237,294[7]
1956 16,732,844[7]
1957 16,110,229[7]
1958 10,621,236[7]
1959 19,691,433[7]
1960 45,446,835[7]
1961 26,850,859[7]
1962 41,864,335[7]
1963 41,916,208[7]
1964 49,518,549[7]
1965 56,965,392[8]
1966 34,567,898[8]
1967 80% silver[b] 62,998,215[9]
1967 50% silver[b]
1968 50% silver[c] 70,460,000[10]
1968 Nickel[c] 87,412,930[11]
1968 Nickel[d] 85,170,000[12]
1969[e] 55,833,929[13]
1970 5,249,296[13]
1971 41,016,968[13]
1972 60,169,387[13]
1973 167,715,435[13]
1974 201,566,565[13]
1975 207,680,000[13]
1976 95,018,533[13]
1977 128,452,206[13]
1978 170,366,431[13]
1979 237,321,321[14]
1980 170,111,533[14]
1981 123,912,900[14]
1982 93,475,000[14]
1983 111,065,000[14]
1984 121,690,000[14]
1985 143,025,000[14]
1986 168,620,000[14]
1987 147,309,000[14]
1988 162,998,558[14]
1989 199,104,414[14]
1990 65,023,000[15]
1991 50,397,000[15]
1992 174,476,000[16]
1993 135,569,000[15]
1994 145,800,000[15]
1995 123,875,000[15]
1996 51,814,000[15]
1997 43,126,000[15]
1998 203,514,000[15]
1999[a] 258,462,000[15]
2000[a] 159,125,000[15]
2001 P Bluenose 266,000,000[5]
2001 P YOTV[f] 224,714,000[17]
2002 P 252,563,000[18]
2003 P Crowned 162,398,000[5]
2003 P Uncrowned
2004 P 211,924,000[19]
2005 P 212,175,000[19]
2006 P 312,122,000[19]
2007 304,110,000[19]
2008 467,495,000[19]
2009 370,700,000[19]
2010 252,500,000[20]
2011 292,325,000[20]
2012 334,675,000[20]
2013 104,775,000[20]
2014 153,450,000[20]
2015 112,475,000[20]
2016 220,000,000[20]
2017 199,925,000[21]
2017 150th ANV[g] 20,000,000[21]
2018 118,525,000[20]
2019 159,775,000[20]
2020 68,750,000[20]
2021 Bluenose (old) 170,775,000
2021 Dual dated[h]
2022 103,400,000

Charles III

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Year Mintage
2023 43,205,000
2024 TBA

Commemoratives

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Date Mintage Reason
1997
49,848
500th anniversary of Caboto's first transatlantic voyage
1998
43,269
90th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mint
2000
69,791
100th anniversary of the first credit union in Canada
2001
40,634
International Year of the Volunteer (non-circulating silver proof)
2002
65,315
Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee; non-circulating silver proof)
2003
21,537
Elizabeth II (Golden Jubilee)
2004
39,486
100th anniversary of the Open Golf Championship of Canada
2010
4,996
75th anniversary of Canada's Voyageur Silver Dollar
2011
6,000
100th anniversary of George V on Canadian coins
2017
8,017
150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (Centennial mackerel; 2017 version)
2017
20,000
150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (our home and native land)
2021
6,000,000
In 2021, a new Bluenose design was issued on the reverse; these dimes feature coloured blue waves.[22][23]
2021
9,000,000
Uncoloured version of the new Bluenose design[22][23]
2023
952,000
Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee)

Collecting

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  • 1936 dot: Extremely rare with only 5 known. There are 3 in private collections, one graded Specimen-63 and 2 examples graded SP-68. The other 2 are in the Ottawa currency museum. The most recent of these to sell at auction was one of the SP68 coins, which brought US$184,000 in a Heritage Auction in January 2010.[24]
  • 1969 large date: Fewer than 20 examples of the large date variety exist. High-grade versions of this coin sell for $15,000 to $30,000. There is only one graded in mint state as of 2012.
  • 1999p: The first Canadian 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 fewer than 250 examples minted. The 2000p dime was lent to the vending industry by the Royal Canadian Mint to test the compatibility of the new plating process of circulation coins with existing vending machines and parking 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 $3,000 CDN. Unlike the 5-cent 2000p issues, the 10-cent coin was not officially released by the mint, and entered the numismatic market illegally.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Coins dated 1999 and 2000 (P) were made in very low amounts.[5]
  2. ^ a b This dime features an Atlantic mackerel and is dated 1867–1967.[3]
  3. ^ a b Ottawa reeding.
  4. ^ Philadelphia reeding.
  5. ^ The "large ship, large date" (1968 style) variety is very rare with 10 to 20 coins known. Coins dated 1969 have a redesigned Bluenose (schooner) which is smaller in size.[12]
  6. ^ Issued in honor of the United Nations' International Year of the Volunteer.
  7. ^ 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. Features a maple leaf (titled "Wings of Peace") that forms the wings and tail of a dove. The theme of the coin is "Our Character". Dated 1867–2017.
  8. ^ These dimes are dated 1921-2021 in honor of 100 years of the "Bluenose" design.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Pride and skill–the 10-cent coin". mint.ca. Royal Canadian Mint. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  2. ^ David C. Harper (2015). North American Coins & Prices. Krause. p. 308.
  3. ^ a b "Canada 10 Cents KM# 67a 1867-1967(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 72: 1968(no mint mark)". NGC. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Canada 10 Cents KM# 183b 2000(no mint mark) P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "Control of electromagnetic signals of coins through multi-ply plating technology". Google Patents. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Canada 10 Cents KM# 51 1953(no mint mark) With straps". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Canada 10 Cents KM# 61 1965(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  9. ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 67 1867-1967(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  10. ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 72 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  11. ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 72a 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Canada 10 Cents KM# 73 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Canada 10 Cents KM# 77.1 1969(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Canada 10 Cents KM# 77.2 1979(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Canada 10 Cents KM# 183 1990(no mint mark) Proof". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 206 1867-1992(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  17. ^ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 13, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date (11th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 236. ISBN 978-1440246555.
  18. ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 447 1952-2002P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Canada 10 Cents KM# 492 2003P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Circulation: 2010 – 2019". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Royal Canadian Mint (2017). 2017 Annual Report – Delivering Results (PDF) (Report). p. 86. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  22. ^ a b "10 cents 2021 - Coloured Bluenose". Coins & Canada. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Woods, Michael (October 22, 2021). "First-ever blue dimes commemorate 100th anniversary of Bluenose". CTV News. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  24. ^ "George V 10 Cents 1936 Dot". Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  • Cross, W.K. (2005). Canadian Coins (59th ed.). Toronto: The Charlton Press. p. 501. ISBN 0-88968-288-7.
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