Dime (Canadian coin)
Canada | |
| Value | 0.10 Canadian dollar |
|---|---|
| Mass | 1.75 g |
| Diameter | 18.03 mm |
| Thickness | 1.22 mm |
| Edge | Milled |
| Composition | Nickel-plated steel 92% steel, 5.5% Cu, 2.5% Ni plating |
| Years of minting | 1858–present |
| Catalog number | – |
| Obverse | |
| Design | Charles III, King of Canada |
| Designer | Steven Rosati |
| Design date | 2023 |
| Reverse | |
 | |
| Design | Bluenose schooner |
| Designer | Emanuel Hahn; design based on photographs of the Bluenose[1] |
| Design date | 1937 |
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.
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
Composition and size
| 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 |
| 1968–2000 | 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
Victoria & Edward VII
An 1858 dime featuring Queen Victoria
| Year | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1858 | 1,250,000[7] | |
| 1870 | 1,600,000[7] | This figure includes the "narrow" and scarcer "wide" 0 varieties. |
| 1871 | 800,000[7] | |
| 1871 H[b] | 1,870,000[7] | |
| 1872 H[b] | 1,000,000[7] | |
| 1874 H[b] | 600,000[7] | |
| 1875 H[b] | 1,000,000[7] | |
| 1880 H[b] | 1,500,000[7] | |
| 1881 H[b] | 950,000[7] | |
| 1882 H[b] | 1,000,000[7] | |
| 1883 H[b] | 300,000[7] | |
| 1884 | 150,000[7] | |
| 1885 | 400,000[7] | |
| 1886 | 800,000[7] | This figure includes the "small" and "large" 6 varieties. |
| 1887 | 350,000[7] | |
| 1888 | 500,000[7] | |
| 1889 | 600,000[7] | Most of the reported mintage includes dimes dated 1888. An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 coins dated 1889 are thought to exist.[8] |
| 1890 H[b] | 450,000[7] | |
| 1891 | 800,000[7] | Coins dated 1891 have either 21 or 22 leaves on their reverse. |
| 1892 | 520,000[7] | The "2" is punched over the "1" variety is scarce. |
| 1893 | 500,000[7] | This figure includes the "flat" and rare "round" top 3 varieties. |
| 1894 | 500,000[7] | |
| 1896 | 650,000[7] | |
| 1898 | 720,000[7] | |
| 1899 | 1,200,000[7] | This figure includes the "small" and "large" 9 varieties. |
| 1900 | 1,100,000[7] | |
| 1901 Victoria | 1,200,000[7] | |
| 1902 Edward VII | 720,000[9] | |
| 1902 H[b] | 1,100,000[9] | |
| 1903 | 500,000[9] | |
| 1903 H[b] | 1,320,000[9] | |
| 1904 | 1,000,000[9] | |
| 1905 | 1,000,000[9] | |
| 1906 | 1,700,000[9] | |
| 1907 | 2,620,000[9] | |
| 1908 | 776,666[9] | |
| 1909 Victorian leaves | 1,697,220[9] | Leaves are similar to the 1902 to 1908 reverse. |
| 1909 Edwardian leaves | Leaves are similar to the 1910 to 1912 reverse. | |
| 1910 | 4,468,331[9] |
George V & George VI
A 1917 dime featuring King George V
A 1947 dime featuring King George VI
| Year | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 1911 no "DEI GRA"[c] | 2,737,584[11] |
| 1912 with "DEI GRA" | 3,235,557[12] |
| 1913 small leaves | 3,613,937[12] |
| 1913 large leaves | |
| 1914 | 2,549,811[12] |
| 1915 | 688,057[12] |
| 1916 | 4,218,114[12] |
| 1917 | 5,011,988[12] |
| 1918 | 5,133,602[12] |
| 1919 | 7,877,722[12] |
| 1920 | 6,305,345[13] |
| 1921 | 2,469,562[13] |
| 1928 | 2,458,602[13] |
| 1929 | 3,253,888[13] |
| 1930 | 1,831,043[13] |
| 1931 | 2,067,421[13] |
| 1932 | 1,154,317[13] |
| 1933 | 672,368[13] |
| 1934 | 409,067[13] |
| 1935 | 384,056[13] |
| 1936 George V | 2,460,871[13][d] |
| 1937 George VI | 2,500,095[14] |
| 1938 | 4,197,323[14] |
| 1939 | 5,501,748[14] |
| 1940 | 16,526,470[14] |
| 1941 | 8,716,386[14] |
| 1942 | 10,214,011[14] |
| 1943 | 21,143,229[14] |
| 1944 | 9,383,582[14] |
| 1945 | 10,979,570[14] |
| 1946 | 6,300,066[14] |
| 1947 | 4,431,926[14] |
| 1947 ML[e] | 9,638,793[14] |
| 1948 | 422,741[15] |
| 1949 | 11,336,172[15] |
| 1950 | 17,823,075[15] |
| 1951[f] | 15,079,265[15] |
| 1952 | 10,474,455[15] |
Elizabeth II
A 1955 dime featuring Queen Elizabeth II
A 1974 dime featuring an older Queen Elizabeth II
| Year | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 1953 no strap | 17,706,395[16] |
| 1953 strap | |
| 1954 | 4,493,150[16] |
| 1955 | 12,237,294[16] |
| 1956 | 16,732,844[16] |
| 1957 | 16,110,229[16] |
| 1958 | 10,621,236[16] |
| 1959 | 19,691,433[16] |
| 1960 | 45,446,835[16] |
| 1961 | 26,850,859[16] |
| 1962 | 41,864,335[16] |
| 1963 | 41,916,208[16] |
| 1964 | 49,518,549[16] |
| 1965 | 56,965,392[17] |
| 1966 | 34,567,898[17] |
| 1967 80% silver[g] | 62,998,215[18] |
| 1967 50% silver[g] | |
| 1968 50% silver[h] | 70,460,000[19] |
| 1968 nickel[h] | 87,412,930[20] |
| 1968 nickel[i] | 85,170,000[21] |
| 1969[j] | 55,833,929[22] |
| 1970 | 5,249,296[22] |
| 1971 | 41,016,968[22] |
| 1972 | 60,169,387[22] |
| 1973 | 167,715,435[22] |
| 1974 | 201,566,565[22] |
| 1975 | 207,680,000[22] |
| 1976 | 95,018,533[22] |
| 1977 | 128,452,206[22] |
| 1978 | 170,366,431[22] |
| 1979 | 237,321,321[23] |
| 1980 | 170,111,533[23] |
| 1981 | 123,912,900[23] |
| 1982 | 93,475,000[23] |
| 1983 | 111,065,000[23] |
| 1984 | 121,690,000[23] |
| 1985 | 143,025,000[23] |
| 1986 | 168,620,000[23] |
| 1987 | 147,309,000[23] |
| 1988 | 162,998,558[23] |
| 1989 | 199,104,414[23] |
| 1990 | 65,023,000[24] |
| 1991 | 50,397,000[24] |
| 1992 | 174,476,000[25] |
| 1993 | 135,569,000[24] |
| 1994 | 145,800,000[24] |
| 1995 | 123,875,000[24] |
| 1996 | 51,814,000[24] |
| 1997 | 43,126,000[24] |
| 1998 | 203,514,000[24] |
| 1999[a] | 258,462,000[24] |
| 2000[a] | 159,125,000[24] |
| 2001 P Bluenose | 266,000,000[5] |
| 2001 P Year of the Volunteer[k] | 224,714,000[26] |
| 2002 P | 252,563,000[27] |
| 2003 P crowned | 162,398,000[5] |
| 2003 P uncrowned | |
| 2004 P | 211,924,000[28] |
| 2005 P | 212,175,000[28] |
| 2006 P | 312,122,000[28] |
| 2007 | 304,110,000[28] |
| 2008 | 467,495,000[28] |
| 2009 | 370,700,000[28] |
| 2010 | 252,500,000[29] |
| 2011 | 292,325,000[29] |
| 2012 | 334,675,000[29] |
| 2013 | 104,775,000[29] |
| 2014 | 153,450,000[29] |
| 2015 | 112,475,000[29] |
| 2016 | 220,000,000[29] |
| 2017 | 199,925,000[30] |
| 2017 150th anniversary of Confederation[l] | 20,000,000[30] |
| 2018 | 118,525,000[29] |
| 2019 | 159,775,000[29] |
| 2020 | 68,750,000[29] |
| 2021 Bluenose (old) | 170,775,000 |
| 2021 dual dated[m] | |
| 2022 | 103,400,000 |
Charles III
| Year | Mintage |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 43,205,000[31] |
| 2024 | 77,275,000[31] |
| 2025 | TBA |
Commemoratives
| 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.[32][33] |
2021
|
9,000,000
|
Uncoloured version of the new Bluenose design[32][33] |
2023
|
952,000
|
Elizabeth II (Platinum Jubilee) |
Collecting
- 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.[34]
- 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
- ^ a b c Coins dated 1999 and 2000 (P) were made in very low amounts.[5]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k The "H" on the coin refers to Ralph Heaton & Sons.
- ^ The word "GRA" (Gratia) was removed from the obverse of the coin to make room for "IND:IMP" (Emperor of India). It was later restored in 1912 after public backlash.[10]
- ^ The dot below date variety is extremely rare with just 5 specimens in existence.[13]
- ^ Obverse "IND: IMP:" aka Indiae Imperator (Emperor of India) removed.
- ^ 1951 Canadian dimes have a "doubled die obverse" variety.
- ^ a b This dime features an Atlantic mackerel and is dated 1867–1967.[3]
- ^ a b Ottawa reeding.
- ^ Philadelphia reeding.
- ^ 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.[21]
- ^ Issued in honor of the United Nations' International Year of the Volunteer.
- ^ 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.
- ^ These dimes are dated 1921–2021 to honour the centennial of the Bluenose.
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ David C. Harper (2015). North American Coins & Prices. Krause. p. 308.
- ^ a b "Canada 10 Cents KM# 67a 1867-1967(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 72: 1968(no mint mark)". NGC. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Canada 10 Cents KM# 183b 2000(no mint mark) P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Control of electromagnetic signals of coins through multi-ply plating technology". Google Patents. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Canada 10 Cents KM# 3 1858/5". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ "Victoria 10 Cents 1889 AU55 PCGS". Heritage Auctions. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Canada 10 Cents KM# 10 1902H". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ "Canadian Coin News". Canadian Coin News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 17 1911(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Canada 10 Cents KM# 23 1912(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Canada 10 Cents KM# 23a 1920(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Canada 10 Cents KM# 34 1937(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Canada 10 Cents KM# 43 1948(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Canada 10 Cents KM# 61 1965(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 67 1867-1967(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 72 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 72a 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b "Canada 10 Cents KM# 73 1968(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 206 1867-1992(no mint mark)". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Michael, Thomas, ed. (July 13, 2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date (11th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 236. ISBN 978-1440246555.
- ^ "Canada 10 Cents KM# 447 1952-2002P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Canada 10 Cents KM# 492 2003P". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Circulation: 2010 – 2019". Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Royal Canadian Mint (2017). 2017 Annual Report – Delivering Results (PDF) (Report). p. 86. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2024" (PDF). Royal Canadian Mint. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
- ^ a b "10 cents 2021 - Coloured Bluenose". Coins & Canada. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Woods, Michael (October 22, 2021). "First-ever blue dimes commemorate 100th anniversary of Bluenose". CTV News. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "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.