2003-2012 - Elizabeth II - Canadian Cent
Copper Plated Steel
KM# 490a
In Canada, a penny is a coin worth one cent, or 1⁄100 of a dollar. According to the Royal Canadian Mint, the official national term of the coin is the "one-cent piece", but in practice the terms penny and cent predominate. Originally, "penny" referred to a two-cent coin. When the two-cent coin was discontinued, penny took over as the new one-cent coin's name. Penny was likely readily adopted because the previous coinage in Canada (up to 1858) was the British monetary system, where Canada used British pounds, shillings, and pence as coinage alongside U.S. decimal coins and Spanish milled dollars.
Production of the penny ceased in May 2012, and the Royal Canadian Mint ceased the distribution of them as of February 4, 2013. However, like all discontinued currency in the Canadian monetary system, the coin remains legal tender. Once distribution of the coin ceased, though, vendors no longer were expected to return pennies as change for cash purchases, and were encouraged to round purchases to the nearest nickel. Non-cash transactions are still denominated to the cent.
REF
Source: Charlton Standard Catalogue
CANADIAN COINS Volume one,
Numismatic Isssues 2010. 64th Edition
Page 62 paragraph 1 reads:
"In 2006, for some reason, multi-ply plated steel planchettes (magnetic) found their way into the production line for striking 2006 copper plated zinc cents (non-magnetic). The obverse dies used in this line did not carry the "P" composition mark. Thus, the multi-ply plated steel planchettes were struck without the "P" composition mark. This variety is listed as 2006 (P), signifying multi-ply plated but no composition mark."
ISBN REF 0889683379 978-0889683372
Source: en.numista.com
1 Cent - Elizabeth II 4th portrait; magnetic
KM# 490a
Features
Source: numista.com
Country Canada
Years 2003-2012
Value 1 Cent
0.01 CAD = 0.0093 USD
Metal Copper-plated Steel
Weight 2.35 g
Diameter 19.05 mm
Thickness 1.45 mm
Engravers Susanna Blunt (obverse)
George Edward Kruger Gray (reverse)
Shape Round
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
REF
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Years 2000–2012 *
Mass 2.35 g
Diameter 19.05 mm
Shape round
Composition 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating
* Although the RCM states 2000 as the year of transition from zinc to steel, zinc-core cents were issued in every year of the 2000s, except 2008. Steel cents dated before 2002 are test pieces for calibrating coin-operated machines, and are very rare in circulation.
REF
Other Reference:
typesets.wikidot.com 1953-2012 Elizabeth II Maple Leaf Cent