Large Cent Facts-Any Canada Large cent collectors/pics out there?

General discussions about canadian coins.
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Silverman
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Location: Calgary Alberta

Large Cent Facts-Any Canada Large cent collectors/pics out there?

Post by Silverman » Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:51 am

The first Canadian cent was minted in 1858 and had a diameter of 1 inch (25.4 mm) and a weight of 1⁄100 pound (4.54 g). These cents were originally issued to bring some kind of order to the Canadian monetary system, which, until 1858, relied on British coinage, bank and commercial tokens (francophones calling them sous, an historical term from the French currency), U.S. currency and Spanish milled dollars. The coin's specifications were chosen with the intention of the coins also being useful as measuring tools. However, their light weight compared to the bank and merchant halfpenny tokens readily available at the time was a serious hindrance to their acceptance by the public. Some of the coins were even sold at a 20% discount, and were inherited by the Dominion government in 1867. Fresh production of new cents (with the weight increased to 1⁄5 ounce or 5.67 grams) was not required until 1876.[11]

The large cents of 1858–1920 were significantly larger than modern one-cent coins and even slightly larger than the modern 25¢ piece (its diameter being 23.88 millimetres or 0.940 inches). After Confederation, these large cent coins were struck on the planchet of the British halfpenny and were roughly the same value. Pennies were issued sporadically in the third quarter of the 19th century. They were used in the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia upon Confederation in 1867. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had issued their own coinage prior to that date, with British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland continuing to issue "pennies" until they joined Confederation. The coin was reduced in size to its current size to match the size of the American penny.[7]

courtesy:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_(Canadian_coin)
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Bill in Burl
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Location: Golden Horseshoe, ONT

Re: Large Cent Facts-Any Canada Large cent collectors/pics out there?

Post by Bill in Burl » Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:25 am

The '58 & '59 planchets were 1/3 thinner than the Brit halfpennies and made of bronze, rather than copper, as were their halfpennies in '58 & '59 and maybe a few '60's. From 1876 on, the Canadian cents were the same size (thickness) of the Brit halfpennies, and I think that their halfpennies were upgraded to bronze starting in 1860.

In '58 and '59, the presses were used to the halfpenny thicknesses/softness and the presses ate up the working dies. The presses were set for too much pressure for the thin planchet and the Reverse dies, especially, had very short lives because of intricate design on the Reverse.... lots of then areas and sharp angles (stress concentration points).

Read Bosox's first book, the "1858 Cents of Provincial Canada", for the complete history and logjams/difficulties in producing/authorizing Canadian coinage. It's a great read and pertains to much more than the 1858 cents.
Bill in Burl

TBH
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Location: sunshine coast BC

Re: Large Cent Facts-Any Canada Large cent collectors/pics out there?

Post by TBH » Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:41 pm

"I seen it on wikipedia, it must be true"
Not!
What a bunch of misinformation and half truths.
What purpose does it serve to propogate this stuff?
Anyone reading this thread please disregard the OP's wikipedia quotes and link and actually search this forum for real and factual information.

Bill in Burl
Posts: 1469
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:41 am
Location: Golden Horseshoe, ONT

Re: Large Cent Facts-Any Canada Large cent collectors/pics out there?

Post by Bill in Burl » Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:02 pm

I saw no half-truths in the OP's post. I take wikipedia with a grain of salt as well, but see no problem with the post, nor the poster. There's few enough posts on this site to start with .. don't need to castigate someone for starting something.
Bill in Burl

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