1889 Canadian Silver Five-Cent (5¢) Value Guide

The 1889 Canadian silver five-cent piece — obverse (left) showing Victoria's Diademed Head by Leonard C. Wyon with the legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA, and reverse (right) featuring the maple leaf wreath encircling “5 CENTS” with the 1889 date below and St. Edward's Crown at top.

The 1889 Canadian silver five-cent piece is one of the most evocative coins in the Dominion's numismatic history. Colloquially known as a fish scale for its diminutive 15.5 mm diameter and extreme thinness, it was struck in 92.5% sterling silver at the Royal Mint in London during a period of economic hardship and low commodity prices. With an official mintage of 1,200,000, the 1889 ranks as a better date or semi-key in the Victorian series — significantly scarcer in collectible grades than the numbers suggest — and is home to one of the most compelling and debated die varieties in all of Canadian numismatics: the 8 over 2 (historically labeled 8 over 3) overdate. For the broader Victorian and Edwardian five-cent denomination context, see our Canadian Five-Cent Value Guide.

Note: Die cracks and shattered-die states exist for 1889 and may be of interest to error collectors, but they are outside the scope of this standard variety and value guide.

1889 Canadian Silver Five-Cent Composition & Melt Value

The 1889 five-cent piece is struck in Sterling Silver — the ancient standard of the British realm — comprising 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. The copper content is a metallurgical necessity: pure silver is too soft to endure commerce, and the copper addition hardens the alloy matrix. Even so, the extreme thinness of the planchet (~0.70 mm) left these coins prone to bending, which is why problem-free survivors in high grade are so scarce today.

The actual silver weight (ASW) is 0.0347 troy ounces, as documented in the GreatCollections auction archive for Canada KM#2. At current silver spot prices, this yields a melt value of approximately $2.50 CAD — meaningful as a floor reference, but far below the numismatic value of any collectible-grade example. The Canadian Currency Act prohibits melting Canadian coins for profit; treat melt value as a minimum baseline only.

For complete technical specifications and die details, see the Numista catalogue entry for Canada KM#2.

A magnet test confirms the 1889 silver five-cent is non-magnetic — sterling silver (92.5% Ag) and copper (7.5% Cu) are both non-ferromagnetic. A coin attracted to a magnet is a base-metal counterfeit.

Metallurgical Authentication at a Glance

• Weight test: A genuine 1889 registers 1.162 g on a digital scale (±0.02 g tolerance for wear). A coin below 1.10 g or above 1.20 g is suspect — contemporary lead/tin counterfeits are noticeably lighter.
• Magnet test: Sterling silver and copper are both non-ferromagnetic. A genuine 1889 will not be attracted to a magnet. Any significant pull toward a magnet indicates a base-metal fake.
• Ring test: When dropped on a hard surface, genuine sterling silver produces a high-pitched, sustained ring. A dull thud indicates a base-metal composition.
• Edge check: The genuine coin has sharp, uniform reeding. Counterfeits — both contemporary (lead/tin) and modern spark-erosion fakes — often display incorrect reed count, a casting seam, or soft, ill-defined teeth.

1889 Canadian Silver Five-Cent Value Chart by Grade

The 1889 Canadian five-cent is a better date in the Victorian series, with values rising sharply above VF-30. All values below are in Canadian dollars (CAD) as of 2024–2026. No Proof-Like or Specimen coins were produced for general collector sale in 1889; all market-available examples are Business Strikes struck at the Royal Mint, London, and carry no mint mark.

Grade comparison for the 1889 Canadian silver five-cent: a well-circulated VG-8 example (left) versus a problem-free EF-40 example (right). Note the retained braid detail and traces of luster in the protected letter areas on the higher-grade coin. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1889 Canadian Silver Five-Cent — Business Strike (Standard Date)

G-4 and VG-8 are documented in the source material as a combined tier ($20–$40); the table shows this range in both columns. The price curve steepens sharply at VF-30, reflecting the extreme scarcity of problem-free, original-surface examples above that level.

1889 Canadian Silver Five-Cent — 8/2 (8/3) Overdate Variety

Full grade-by-grade pricing for the overdate variety beyond VF-30 is not documented in the source material. The documented 3×–5× premium applied to standard-date prices provides an indicative guide at other grades. Refer to Calgary Coin's Canadian five-cent listings for current dealer reference prices.

Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of 2024–2026. For the complete five-cent denomination guide across all eras, see our Canadian Five-Cent Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1889 Canadian Five-Cent Varieties

The 1889 five-cent is home to one of the most debated die varieties in the entire Victorian Canadian series. One significant overdate variety drives specialist demand; beyond it, minor repunched-date varieties exist but carry no material market premium.

Trophy Variety: The 1889 8/2 (8 over 2) Overdate

Date area comparison: standard 1889 (left) versus the 8/2 overdate (right). On the overdate, a small point at the lower-left of the first “8” — consistent with the downward tail of an underlying “2” — is the primary diagnostic. Continuous die cracks through the base of all four date digits are the critical corroborating feature. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

For much of the 20th century, the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins listed this variety as the 1889 8/3, indicating the first “8” in the date was punched over a “3.” Most ICCS, PCGS, and NGC holders issued before approximately 2015 carry this “8/3” designation.

Modern numismatic research has challenged that attribution. Work published in the Spink Numismatic Circular (May 2010, pp. 72–73) by specialist Michael Gouby presents forensic evidence — using high-magnification digital microscopy and comparative die analysis — that the underlying digit is a “2,” not a “3.” The key evidence is a small point at the lower-left extreme of the first “8,” consistent with the downward terminal tail of a “2” punch, a shape that does not match the closed lower curve of the “3” punch used in 1880s die sinking. The geometry aligns precisely with the period “2” punch profile. The proposed mechanism is an incorrectly picked-up “2” punch during die preparation, corrected with an “8,” or alternatively a stray blunder from an 1882-series die process.

Diagnostic Pickup Points for the Overdate

• Primary diagnostic — the anomalous digit: Under 10× magnification, examine the first “8” in the date. A small point or serif at the lower-left of that numeral — inconsistent with the geometry of a standard “8” — is the key indicator of the underlying “2.”
• Secondary diagnostic — die cracks: The overdate die suffered a short working life due to stress fractures. Distinct die cracks run through the bottom of all four date digits. The simultaneous presence of both the anomalous digit and the through-date die cracks is strong confirmation that you have the overdate.
• Rarity and value: This variety is considerably rarer than the standard 1889 date. A documented ICCS VF-30 example was valued at $192.50 CAD. As a general guide, the variety commands a 3×–5× premium over the standard-date price at equivalent grades. Many generalist dealers do not check date digits under magnification; unrecognized examples occasionally surface in raw lots and dealer “junk silver” bins.

For a visual variety reference covering Victorian Canadian five-cent dies, see the Saskatoon Coin Club's Canadian Five-Cent Major Varieties guide.

Minor Varieties: Repunched Dates and Die States

Due to the hand-punching of dates into working dies, minor repunching is endemic throughout the Victorian five-cent series. The 1889 may exhibit double-punched numerals (e.g., a recut “1” or secondary “9”) or progressive die-state variations. These are interesting to specialists but do not command the significant premium of the 8/2 overdate. Attribution requires 10× magnification and comparison against a standard die reference.

Specimen Strikes: Theoretically Possible, Practically Unavailable

The Charlton Standard Catalogue has historically listed Specimens for many Victorian five-cent dates, and the documentary record references “specimens of the coinage of 1889.” If genuine Specimens from this year exist, they are believed to reside in institutional collections (such as the Bank of Canada Currency Museum) or long-held private collections, and are effectively non-existent in the open market. No open-market valuations are available. Many Victorian-era coins housed in older “Specimen” holders are actually proof-like early die strikes rather than true Specimens. A genuine Specimen would display squared rims and a distinctive matte-mirror field finish. If you encounter such a coin, seek expert authentication from ICCS or CCCS before accepting any Specimen premium.

1889 Canadian Silver Five-Cent Identification Guide

Use this checklist to confirm you hold a genuine, unaltered 1889 Canadian silver five-cent piece and to determine its variety and approximate grade tier.

Key wear diagnostics on the 1889 Canadian five-cent obverse: (1) the eyebrow — the absolute highest point, first to show friction; (2) the hair braid above the ear — individual strands must be distinct in VF+; (3) the diadem jewels — rounded and separately defined in EF+, merging in Fine. Any flat grey on the eyebrow disqualifies Mint State regardless of field luster.

30-Second Identification Checklist

1. Monarch and portrait: The obverse should show Queen Victoria facing left, wearing a jeweled diadem headband — not a simple laurel wreath. The legend reads VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA (Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen) around the upper arc, with CANADA at the bottom. The portrait was engraved by Leonard Charles Wyon, Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint; it was introduced to the Canadian five-cent series in 1870 and used through the end of Victoria's reign.

2. Reverse design: The reverse displays a maple leaf wreath encircling 5 CENTS in the center field, with 1889 below the denomination and St. Edward's Crown at the 12 o'clock position. The wreath and lettering are symmetrical and cleanly defined on well-struck examples.

3. Date confirmation: Confirm the date reads 1889. Then, under 10× magnification, inspect the first “8” for the overdate pickup points described in the Varieties section.

4. Edge: The genuine coin has a reeded (milled) edge with sharp, uniform teeth. A smooth edge, an irregular reed pattern, or a casting seam indicates a counterfeit.

5. Weight verification: Place the coin on a digital jeweler's scale. A genuine 1889 five-cent should register 1.162 g (±0.02 g tolerance for wear). A coin below 1.10 g or above 1.20 g is suspect — contemporary lead/tin counterfeits are characteristically lighter.

6. Magnet test (composition verification): Hold a magnet near the coin. A genuine 1889 is non-magnetic — sterling silver (92.5% Ag) and copper (7.5% Cu) are both non-ferromagnetic. Significant attraction to a magnet confirms a base-metal counterfeit.

7. Mint mark (absence is correct): There is no mint mark on the 1889 issue. It was struck exclusively at the Royal Mint, London (Tower Hill). The absence of any mark is the correct state. By contrast, the 1890H carries a small “H” on the reverse for the Heaton Mint in Birmingham — do not confuse a missing mark with a removed mark.

8. Finish identification: All documented open-market 1889 examples are Business Strikes, displaying cartwheel luster (if uncirculated) or wear-consistent surfaces (if circulated). A genuine Specimen would show notably squared rims and a matte-mirror field finish distinct from normal business-strike surfaces. Have any coin claimed as a Specimen authenticated by ICCS or CCCS before accepting a premium.

9. Variety check: Under 10× magnification: (a) examine the lower-left of the first “8” for a small serif or point inconsistent with a normal “8,” and (b) look for a continuous die crack running through the base of all four date digits. Both features together indicate the overdate. See the Varieties section for valuation.

Authentication checks for the 1889 silver five-cent: a digital scale confirming the target weight of 1.162 g (left) and a magnified edge view showing sharp, uniform reeding (right). Fakes frequently weigh outside the tolerance range and may show a casting seam or incorrect reed count along the edge.

Grading Wear Points in Detail

Grading the Diademed Head on a 15.5 mm planchet requires close attention. The high points, in order of diagnostic importance:

1. The eyebrow: The absolute highest point on the obverse die. Any friction or grey flatness here disqualifies Mint State. In AU, wear is limited to the very tip. In EF, the eyebrow shows light wear but retains roundness.
2. The hair braid (above the ear): In VF, the lines between individual braid strands must be visible. In Fine, strands begin to merge into a single mass. In VG, the braid shows no internal separation.
3. The diadem jewels: The crown band features diamonds and crosses. In EF+, these must be distinct, rounded, and individually defined. In VF, the top jewels show wear but remain separate. In Fine, the jewels begin to merge.
4. Reverse maple leaf veins: In VF, the veins within the maple leaves are complete. In Fine, veins at the center of the leaves wear smooth first.

For a photographic grading reference keyed to the Diademed Head portrait, see the Saskatoon Coin Club's Victorian Diademed Head Photo Grading Guide.

1889 Canadian Silver Five-Cent Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Value data synthesized from dealer listings, certified auction results, and specialist price guides as of 2024–2026. Primary sources used in this guide:

• NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada 5 Cents KM#2 (1858–1901)
• Calgary Coin — Canadian Five-Cent Coins (variety and pricing listings)
• Numista — Canada KM#2 Five-Cent Catalogue Entry (specifications and mintage)
• Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian Five-Cent Major Varieties
• Saskatoon Coin Club — Victorian Diademed Head Photo Grading Guide
• GreatCollections Auction Archive — 1889 Canada Silver 5 Cents (ASW reference)
• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins (variety attributions and historical Specimen listings)
• Michael Gouby, “Re-attribution of the 1889 8/3 Overdate,” Spink Numismatic Circular, May 2010, pp. 72–73

Values represent typical market ranges, not guarantees of realized price. Individual coin grade, surface originality, eye appeal, and current silver spot prices all affect final sale results. Error coins are outside the scope of this guide.