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5 cents 1951 - Nickel refinery

By thecanadiannumismatist    |   Tuesday, 17 October 2023

5 cents 1951 Canada

In the early 1950s, a study recommended changes at the Mint. In bad physical condition after World War II, combined with a crowded and noisy facility and a higher demand for coins, new machines were chosen, old machines improved and made more efficient and the floor area was increased.

Until recently the continued large scale orders for Canadian coinage, averaging about 100 million pieces annually over a period of twelve years, were considered abnormal and a temporary duration. In view of the changed condition and the consistent heavy demand for coin to meet te needs of the public, this average now has to be regarded as a normal year's production.

- R.J. Edmunds, Chief of the embattled Coining and Medal Division

During this process, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the discovery and naming of the element nickel by Swedish chemist A.F. Cronstedt, it was decided to produce a special circulating 5-cent coin. During World War I, Canada had become the world's largest producer of nickel with over 90% of global production (95% exported).

5 cents 1951 Canada

The design

An open competition resulted of over 10,000 entries. By Stephen Trenka, the design selected depicts a nickel refinery. The official design was made public at the Mint on December 18, 1950.

From Thornhill, Ont. Trenka also designed the 1958 British Columbia silver dollar which was selected from some 150 entries.

Stephen Trenka was born in Budapest where he studied at the Royal School of Design. He came to Canada in 1929 and continued his studies at the Ontario College of Art.

The Big Nickel

5 cents 1951 Canada

The Big Nickel is a 9 meters (30 ft) replica of the 1951 commemorative Canadian nickel, located at the grounds of the Dynamic Earth science museum in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and is the world's largest depiction of a coin.

To celebrate the upcoming Canadian Sudbury's Centennial, the Sudbury Canada Centennial Committee and Ted Szilva, at the time a 28-year-old fireman, put forward the suggestion for a major tourist attraction featuring a giant replica of a five-cent coin, an underground mine and a mining science centre. The idea was rejected because the committee, but Szilva had independently researched his it.

Szilva contracted a firm to build the Big Nickel road, and Pioneer Construction paved the new road. The Big Nickel was eventually built on the crest of the hill, 3 feet outside of the city of Sudbury limits in Copper Cliff Ontario.

Derivatives - Tokens and medals

The Canadian Centennial Numismatic Park (1964 to 1982) sold many derivatives of tokens and medals based on the Big Nickel. Individuals who visited the site had the opportunity to purchase various souvenirs, including these.

Canadian Centennial Numismatic Park tokens and medals by ainsivalavie (french only)

5 cents 1951 price guide and values

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