1931 Canadian 1-Cent (Penny) Value Guide
Find out what your 1931 Canadian penny is worth. Complete price guide by grade and color (Red, Red-Brown, Brown) for this Depression-era semi-key date, including rare Specimen values — all prices in CAD.
Most 1931 Canadian pennies are worth $1.00–$6.00 in circulated condition. In Gem Mint State Red (MS-65 RD), values reach $2,800–$3,200. The ultra-rare Specimen strike commands $30,000–$55,000.
- Circulated (G4–VF20, Brown):$1.00–$6.00
- Extremely Fine (EF-40, Brown):$10–$15
- About Uncirculated (AU-50, Brown/RB):$25–$40
- Uncirculated (MS-60, Brown/RB):$50–$75
- Choice Mint State Red (MS-63 RD):$200–$250
- Near Gem Red (MS-64 RD):$800–$1,000
- Gem Red (MS-65 RD):$2,800–$3,200
- Superb Gem Red (MS-66 RD):$4,500+
- Specimen (SP, Red):$30,000–$55,000
Found in a collection or junk box? Circulated 1931 cents are worth $1–$6 — measurably more than common dates, reflecting their semi-key status in the George V series. Unusually sharp squared rims and mirror-like or satin fields? It may be an ultra-rare Specimen strike worth tens of thousands — professional certification is essential before drawing any conclusions. Is it silver or a special metal? No — the 1931 cent is bronze (95.5% copper) and non-magnetic; it contains no precious metal. All value is purely numismatic. All values in CAD as of February 2026. See full value chart →
The 1931 Canadian 1-cent piece stands as one of the defining semi-key dates of the George V Small Cent series (1920–1936). With a mintage of just 3,842,776 — suppressed by the economic paralysis of the Great Depression — it is scarce enough to command meaningful premiums across all grades, yet accessible enough for dedicated collectors to find in circulated condition. The year 1931 also marks a pivotal institutional moment: on December 1, 1931, the Ottawa facility transitioned from a British imperial branch of the Royal Mint to the wholly Canadian-owned Royal Canadian Mint (RCM), making the 1931 cent a numismatic bridge between colonial administration and national monetary sovereignty. To compare values across all dates in this series and related Canadian penny issues, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.
Note: Errors such as die cracks and die clashes exist for the 1931 cent but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
1931 Canadian Penny Composition & Melt Value
Magnet test on a 1931 Canadian cent — the bronze alloy is non-magnetic, confirming authentic composition. If the coin sticks to a magnet, it is not a genuine 1931 bronze cent and warrants expert examination.
Alloy Breakdown
The 1931 cent is struck from a specific bronze alloy: 95.5% copper, 3.0% tin, and 1.5% zinc. The tin component hardens the alloy, providing resistance to wear and contributing to the mellow tone of the luster. This composition differs fundamentally from the plated-steel cents introduced in later decades — and from the modern copper-plated zinc cents used elsewhere.
The 1931 cent contains no silver, gold, or other precious metals. The source document does not calculate a specific melt value for this composition, and numismatic value far exceeds any intrinsic metal value across every circulated grade. Note that the Canadian Currency Act prohibits the melting of legal-tender coinage.
The "Red" Chemical Principle
At 95.5% copper, the 1931 cent is highly reactive to environmental sulfur and moisture. Freshly struck coins display a brilliant salmon-red surface (cuprous oxide bloom), which naturally oxidizes to a chocolate brown (cupric oxide) over years or decades. A coin that retains its full Red designation after nearly a century has been preserved in an exceptional low-sulfur, low-humidity environment — often sealed in a quality holder shortly after striking. This chemical rarity is the root cause of the dramatic premium attached to Red (RD) examples in Mint State.
The document identifies the following color-to-value multipliers for this issue: Brown (BN) represents the baseline; Red-Brown (RB) carries a multiplier of approximately 2×–3× the Brown price; and Red (RD) carries a multiplier of approximately 10×–20×. These multipliers apply at Mint State grades — circulated coins are not given color designations and are priced as Brown by convention.
Magnetic Test: Authentication in Seconds
Apply any common magnet to your 1931 cent. A genuine example will not be attracted to the magnet — bronze is non-magnetic. If your coin sticks, it is either a later plated-steel cent, a wrong-planchet anomaly, or a counterfeit and should be examined by an expert. This non-magnetic result is your primary authentication checkpoint before assessing grade or color.
1931 Canadian Penny Value Chart by Grade & Color
The 1931 cent's value is governed by two interacting variables: grade (the degree of wear or surface preservation) and color designation (the proportion of original copper-red luster that survives). These factors produce an exponential value curve — a single grade step at the Gem level can double or triple the price, and the difference between a Brown and a Red Mint State coin is measured in multiples, not percentages.
Color designations for 1931 Canadian cents (left to right): Full Red (RD) — 95% or more original luster, the premium tier; Red-Brown (RB) — partially toned; Brown (BN) — fully oxidized chocolate brown. Color is the single largest value driver at Mint State grades. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
1931 Canadian Penny — Business Strike (Circulation)
ℹ️ Color and Grade — How the Table Works
Circulated grades (G4–EF40) are priced as Brown (BN) because decades of handling and oxidation inevitably destroy original luster. The Mint State values below for MS-63 and above reflect Full Red (RD) — the highest color designation. Brown or Red-Brown Mint State coins trade at a significant discount; the document notes approximate multipliers of 2×–3× for RB and 10×–20× for RD over the BN baseline. Specific BN and RB pricing for individual Mint State grades is not provided in the source document and is therefore omitted.
| Grade | Color | Est. Retail (CAD) | Market Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-4 | BN | $1.00–$1.50 | High liquidity — junk bins and starter type sets |
| VG-8 | BN | $1.50–$2.50 | High liquidity |
| F-12 | BN | $2.50–$4.00 | High liquidity — popular album-filler grade |
| VF-20 | BN | $4.00–$6.00 | High liquidity |
| EF-40 | BN | $10.00–$15.00 | Moderate liquidity — light wear on crown band and leaf veins only |
| AU-50 | BN/RB | $25.00–$40.00 | Moderate liquidity; AU-58 is frequently misrepresented as MS-60 |
| MS-60 | BN/RB | $50.00–$75.00 | Low liquidity — entry of the "dead zone" (see note below) |
| MS-63 RD | RD | $200.00–$250.00 | Moderate liquidity; blazing luster, some distracting marks acceptable |
| MS-64 RD | RD | $800.00–$1,000.00 | Moderate liquidity — the "Near Gem" cliff where pricing accelerates sharply |
| MS-65 RD | RD | $2,800.00–$3,200.00 | Very low liquidity — genuine condition rarity; virtually mark-free surfaces required |
| MS-66 RD | RD | $4,500.00+ | Extremely low liquidity — auction-only market events |
⚠️ The "Dead Zone" — AU-50 Through MS-62 Brown
Coins graded AU-50 through MS-62 in Brown or Red-Brown occupy an awkward middle market. They are too expensive for entry-level collectors ($25–$75) but not pristine enough for investors or advanced numismatists seeking Red Gems. These coins frequently sit unsold in dealer inventory for extended periods. The practical guidance: acquire a solid circulated example (Fine to Very Fine) as an affordable collection piece, or save specifically for a certified Gem Red (MS-65 RD) if investment is the goal.
Grade comparison: VF-20 Brown (left, worth $4–$6) versus MS-65 Red (right, worth $2,800–$3,200). The unforgiving open fields of the Fred Lewis maple leaf reverse make contact marks immediately visible — the primary reason Gem Red examples are genuine condition rarities. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
ℹ️ Eye Appeal Can Trump Technical Grade
At auction, eye appeal plays a significant role in realized prices. A technically graded MS-65 coin with a weak strike may sell below its estimated retail value, while an MS-64 coin displaying explosive iridescent or rainbow toning may exceed the MS-65 estimate. Collectors of George V bronze are often described as "toning hunters," willing to pay premiums for coins that have developed attractive blue, purple, or iridescent oxidation patterns — provided the toning is original and not artificially induced.
1931 Canadian Penny — Specimen (SP)
The 1931 Specimen cent represents the absolute apex of the issue and one of the rarest Canadian cents outside the series' true key dates. Unlike the boxed Specimen sets the Royal Canadian Mint sells to the public today, the Royal Mint did not offer Specimen sets commercially in 1931. Specimen coins were prepared individually — on specially polished dies with hand-selected, individually handled planchets, struck multiple times at elevated pressure — for presentation to dignitaries, government archives, and institutional collections. The known population of certified genuine 1931 Specimens is described in the source literature as miniscule, with only a handful of examples recorded across PCGS and NGC combined.
⚠️ Certification Is Mandatory Before Paying Specimen Prices
Many coins described or sold as "Specimen" are actually high-grade early business strikes, polished coins, or — most dangerously — whizzed (artificially polished) coins dressed up to mimic Specimen luster. A genuine 1931 Specimen has distinctly squared wire rims (the face-to-edge junction forms a near-90-degree angle), satin or semi-reflective fields, and razor-sharp device detail traceable to a special striking process, with no bag marks from mint handling. Certification by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC is mandatory before paying Specimen-level prices. Visual inspection alone cannot authenticate a Specimen claim.
| Finish / Grade | Color | Est. Retail / Realized (CAD) | Provenance / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specimen (SP-66) | RD | ~$53,516 | Belzberg Collection / Stewart Blay Collection; sold via GreatCollections (converted from USD auction result) |
| Specimen (general range) | RD | $30,000–$55,000 | Auction-only market; no fixed retail price — realized price depends on competing bidders at time of sale |
Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026, based on market data from 2019–2024 as cited in the source document. For the complete denomination price guide across all George V and subsequent Canadian cent issues, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide. Additional pricing reference: Coins and Canada — 1931 1-Cent Pricing. World coin grade populations: NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada Cent KM-28.
Most Valuable 1931 Canadian Penny Varieties
The 1931 Canadian cent is notable, in part, for what it lacks: the Charlton Standard Catalogue's documented list of Canadian 1-cent major varieties does not include any die varieties for the 1931 date. By 1931, the Ottawa Mint had refined its die-making and planchet preparation processes to a point where the chaotic re-punching and die irregularities of the early 1920s had largely subsided. The 1931 cent is a clean issue from a die-variety perspective, which shifts the collector's focus from variety hunting to condition and finish rarity.
Trophy-Level: The 1931 Specimen (SP-66 RD) — Belzberg / Stewart Blay Collections
The undisputed apex of 1931 cent collecting is a finish rarity rather than a die variety: the Specimen strike. Only a handful of genuine examples are believed to survive in any condition, making the 1931 Specimen one of the rarest Canadian cents outside the series' celebrated key dates of 1922, 1923, and 1925. The finest known example — certified PCGS SP-66 Red, bearing the prestigious pedigrees of both the Belzberg Collection and the Stewart Blay Collection — realized approximately $53,516 CAD (converted from the USD auction result) via GreatCollections. General Specimen examples in Red are estimated in the range of $30,000–$55,000, subject to the auction market's competitive dynamics at the time of sale.
Condition-Rarity Trophy: MS-65 Red and Above
For the vast majority of collectors, the meaningful variety to pursue is not a die anomaly but a condition rarity: a 1931 cent holding Full Red (RD) designation at the Gem grade (MS-65) or above. The convergence of Depression-era scarcity (virtually no one set aside rolls of pennies in 1931), the chemical instability of copper over nearly a century, and the unforgiving open fields of the Fred Lewis maple leaf reverse — which expose every contact mark — means that genuine Gem Red survivors are exceptionally scarce. Estimated retail for MS-65 RD is $2,800–$3,200, with MS-66 RD entering auction-only territory at $4,500+.
Minor Specialists' Varieties (No Premium Significance)
Advanced die-study specialists may note two categories of minor production anomalies on 1931 cents: die cracks (raised lines of metal on the coin's surface caused by fractures in the aging die) and die clashes (ghost impressions of the opposing die's design appearing on the coin, caused when obverse and reverse dies strike each other without a planchet in between). These are recognized as collectible curiosities rather than meaningful varieties. Die cracks may carry a modest premium; die clashes are generally valued as conversation pieces. Neither affects the primary valuation matrix above.
ℹ️ Misattribution Alert: The Non-Existent "1931-S" Canadian Penny
The famous US key date — the 1931-S Lincoln Cent struck in San Francisco — is occasionally confused with the Canadian 1931 cent by novice collectors. No Canadian 1931 cent carries any mint mark. All were struck at the Ottawa facility, which did not use mint marks on circulation coinage. A coin described as a "1931-S Canadian penny" is a misattribution; no such variety exists in the Canadian series.
1931 Canadian Penny Identification Guide
Use the following 30-second checklist to confirm exactly what you have. Accurate identification is essential before valuing any 1931 cent — the difference between a circulated business strike and a genuine Specimen strike, or between a Brown and a Red Mint State example, can mean thousands of dollars.
Obverse (left): George V Crowned Effigy by Sir E.B. Mackennal — note "B.M." initials on bust truncation and the legend GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP:. Reverse (right): Two Maple Leaves on Twig by Fred Lewis — CANADA arcs above, 1 CENT in center, date 1931 at bottom.
30-Second Identification Checklist
- Monarch Check: The obverse must show King George V facing left, wearing the Imperial State Crown and Robes of State. The portrait designer's initials "B.M." (Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal) appear discreetly on the truncation of the king's bust. The obverse legend reads GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP: — translating to "George V, by the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India." This is a Crowned Effigy, specifically designed for colonial and dominion coinage.
- Reverse Check: The reverse must show two maple leaves on a single twig, the minimalist design introduced by Fred Lewis in 1920. CANADA arcs across the upper periphery; 1 CENT appears in the center field; and 1931 sits at the base.
- Date Check: Confirm the date reads 1931. Examine the numerals under magnification for machine doubling — blurred, shelf-like numerals caused by die bounce during striking. Machine doubling on 1931 cents adds no value and should not be confused with a Doubled Die variety (which does not exist for this date per the Charlton Catalogue).
- Edge Check: Run your fingernail around the perimeter of the coin. The 1931 cent has a plain (smooth) edge. Any reeding would indicate the wrong denomination or a counterfeit.
- Magnet Test — Composition Verification: Hold a magnet close to the coin. A genuine 1931 cent made of bronze (95.5% Cu, 3.0% Sn, 1.5% Zn) is non-magnetic — it will not be attracted to the magnet. If the coin sticks, it is not a 1931 bronze cent; it may be a later plated-steel cent placed in the wrong holder, a wrong-planchet error, or a counterfeit. This is a mandatory authentication step before proceeding further.
- Marks Check: No mint marks, privy marks, or commemorative marks exist on the 1931 Canadian cent. This is standard for Canadian circulation coinage of this era — all 1931 cents were struck at Ottawa without any distinguishing symbol. If a mark is present, treat it as damage or a counterfeit indicator and seek expert examination.
- Finish Identification — The Critical Step:
- Business Strike: Cartwheel luster radiates outward from the center when the coin is slowly tilted under a single-point light source. Surfaces will show die flow lines and possibly minor contact marks from bag handling. Rims are slightly rounded at the face-to-edge junction.
- Specimen: Squared, wire-sharp rims — the junction between the coin's face and its edge approaches a near-90-degree angle. Fields may appear satin or semi-reflective rather than displaying full cartwheel luster. Device details (crown pearls, maple leaf veins) are razor-sharp from the double-struck, high-pressure striking process. No bag marks are present — each Specimen was handled individually. If you believe you have a Specimen, do not clean, dip, or further handle the coin. Submit immediately to ICCS, PCGS, or NGC for authentication.
- Color Assessment: Under natural daylight or a neutral light source, evaluate how much original copper-red luster remains:
- Red (RD): 95% or more of the coin displays bright salmon-red mint bloom — the chemical state of freshly struck copper preserved intact.
- Red-Brown (RB): Between 5% and 95% of the surface retains red luster — the coin is mottled or partially toned.
- Brown (BN): Less than 5% red luster remains — the coin has oxidized fully to chocolate brown, which is the norm for most circulated and many Mint State 1931 cents.
Key wear diagnostic areas on the 1931 cent obverse: (1) Crown band — pearls and jewels flatten first and are the primary indicator of Fine vs. Very Fine; (2) Eyebrow — shows friction at EF-40; (3) Cheekbone — the luster break here is the diagnostic boundary between About Uncirculated and Mint State. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
The AU/MS Boundary: The Most Critical Distinction
The line between AU-58 and MS-60 is the most commercially significant grading boundary on the 1931 cent — a difference that can mean moving from a $40 coin to a $50–$75 coin in Brown, or far more in Red. The diagnostic: tilt the coin slowly under a single-point light source. If the cartwheel luster stops at the cheekbone (creating a gray or flat area), the coin is About Uncirculated. If luster flows continuously across the cheekbone without interruption, the coin is Mint State. Many AU-58 examples have been sold as MS-60; in the current third-party grading environment, this distinction is rigorously enforced by PCGS, NGC, and ICCS.
Business Strike (left) showing slightly rounded rims and cartwheel luster versus Specimen strike (right) showing squared wire rims at near-90-degree angles and satin fields. The rim angle is the most reliable single diagnostic for Specimen identification. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
⚠️ Never Clean Your 1931 Cent
Cleaning a bronze coin — whether by dipping in chemicals, polishing with cloth, or wiping with any material — strips the original oxide layer and introduces hairlines visible under magnification. Third-party graders (ICCS, PCGS, NGC) will designate a cleaned coin "Details — Cleaned" or "Altered Color," eliminating all numismatic premium regardless of the coin's underlying detail quality. If your coin displays active green powdery corrosion (Bronze Disease or PVC residue), seek professional numismatic conservation — do not attempt home treatment.
1931 Canadian Penny Value FAQs
What is a 1931 Canadian penny worth?
In circulated condition, a 1931 Canadian penny is worth $1.00–$6.00 depending on grade (G4 through VF20). Extremely Fine (EF-40) examples trade for $10–$15; About Uncirculated (AU-50) for $25–$40. In Mint State with Full Red designation, values step sharply: MS-63 RD is $200–$250, MS-64 RD reaches $800–$1,000, and Gem MS-65 RD commands $2,800–$3,200. The ultra-rare Specimen strike is estimated at $30,000–$55,000. All values in CAD as of February 2026.
Is the 1931 Canadian penny rare?
The 1931 cent is classified as a semi-key date in the George V Small Cent series. With a mintage of 3,842,776 — one of the lowest in the series outside the true key dates of 1922, 1923, and 1925 — it is scarce enough to command meaningful premiums over common-date cents, but available enough that most collectors can locate a circulated example. In Gem Mint State Red (MS-65 RD or higher), it is a genuine condition rarity: the combination of Depression-era hoarding scarcity, copper's chemical instability, and the unforgiving open-field reverse design means very few examples survived nearly a century with full Red luster intact.
What makes a 1931 Canadian penny valuable?
Three factors drive value: (1) Grade — the coin's level of wear and surface quality, with Gem Mint State (MS-65+) commanding exponential premiums; (2) Color — Full Red (RD) examples at Mint State are worth approximately 10–20 times the Brown baseline, because copper rarely survives a century without oxidizing; and (3) Finish — the ultra-rare Specimen strike, produced individually for dignitaries rather than for circulation, commands tens of thousands of dollars compared to even a top-grade business strike. At auction, subjective eye appeal — including the presence of attractive original toning — can also cause realized prices to diverge from estimated retail values in either direction.
Is my 1931 Canadian penny silver?
No. The 1931 Canadian cent is bronze — 95.5% copper, 3.0% tin, 1.5% zinc — with no silver, gold, or other precious metal content. You can confirm this in seconds with a magnet: genuine 1931 cents are non-magnetic (bronze does not attract magnets), and they also lack the gray-white surface color of silver coins. The value of a 1931 cent is entirely numismatic — driven by grade, color preservation, and rarity — not by intrinsic metal content.
Should I get my 1931 Canadian penny graded?
Grading economics determine the answer. For circulated examples from G4 through EF-40 (worth $1–$15), the coin's value is well below the minimum cost of certification, which typically begins at $30 or more per coin. The equation remains questionable for AU-50 through MS-62 Brown ($25–$75), unless the coin has exceptional eye appeal or provenance. The threshold where certification becomes financially justified begins around MS-63 Red ($200–$250) and is clearly warranted at MS-64 RD and above. The ICCS (International Coin Certification Service) is the Canadian national standard grader and is well-recognized domestically. PCGS and NGC are the major US-based alternatives that carry strong international auction liquidity for higher-value examples.
What is the difference between a Business Strike and a Specimen for the 1931 penny?
A Business Strike is a standard circulation coin produced in large quantities on normal dies and planchets, intended for everyday commerce. A Specimen (SP) is a specially prepared presentation piece: dies were polished, planchets were individually selected and handled, and each coin was struck multiple times at elevated pressure to achieve maximum design sharpness. Visually, Specimens display squared wire rims (near-90-degree face-to-edge junction), sharp device detail, and satin or semi-reflective fields, with no bag marks from bulk coin handling. The 1931 Specimen was not sold in sets to the public — coins were produced individually for dignitaries and institutional archives. Certification by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC is mandatory to authenticate a Specimen claim; visual inspection alone is insufficient.
What do "Red," "Red-Brown," and "Brown" mean for a 1931 penny?
These color designations describe the proportion of original copper-red mint luster that survives on the coin. Red (RD) means 95% or more of the surface displays bright salmon-red bloom — preserving the chemical state of the coin as struck, a remarkable achievement after nearly a century. Red-Brown (RB) means between 5% and 95% of the surface retains red luster — partially toned and mottled. Brown (BN) means less than 5% red luster remains — the coin has fully oxidized to chocolate brown, which is the condition of most circulated and many Mint State 1931 cents. Color designations are only applied to uncirculated coins; circulated coins are priced as Brown by convention regardless of their hue.
How do I tell if my "shiny" 1931 penny is a Specimen, a cleaned coin, or a high-grade business strike?
This is one of the most consequential identification questions for 1931 cents. A genuine Specimen shows: squared wire rims at a near-90-degree angle; satin or semi-reflective fields (not a full mirror); razor-sharp crown pearls and maple leaf veins from the multiple-strike process; and zero bag marks or contact marks from bulk handling. A cleaned coin may appear shiny but will display fine hairlines under 5× or 10× magnification, unnaturally uniform or "salmon pink" color, and luster that lacks the natural cartwheel flow of original surfaces. A high-grade business strike shows cartwheel luster radiating from the center, slightly rounded (not squared) rims, and may carry minor contact marks consistent with bag handling. When in doubt, submit to ICCS, PCGS, or NGC — a cleaned coin receives a "Details" designation that permanently destroys its numismatic premium.
What happened to the Canadian penny — is the 1931 cent still valid?
The Canadian penny was withdrawn from circulation on February 4, 2013, when the Royal Canadian Mint ceased distributing 1-cent coins to financial institutions. However, all pre-2013 Canadian cents — including the 1931 issue — remain legal tender under Canadian law. They are simply no longer distributed as everyday change. For collectors, this means 1931 cents exist in the numismatic market rather than pocket change, and their value is determined by collector demand and grade rather than face value. The 1931 cent was minted 82 years before the penny was retired.
How should I store a 1931 penny to protect its value?
Bronze is chemically reactive. Store 1931 cents in environments with relative humidity below 35%. Avoid soft PVC (polyvinyl chloride) flips — the flexible plastic holders used for decades — which release hydrochloric acid over time and cause green corrosion on copper. Use chemically inert Mylar holders (such as SAFLIP-type flips) or certified third-party grading slabs (PCGS, NGC, or ICCS) for any coin of significant value. Never store bronze coins in paper envelopes that may contain sulfur compounds, a common source of toning. If you discover active green powdery corrosion on your coin ("Bronze Disease"), do not attempt home treatment; seek professional numismatic conservation, as this form of corrosion is irreversible if left untreated and spreads aggressively.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide are derived from the following numismatic references, accessed February 2026. All prices are in Canadian Dollars (CAD). Market values reflect typical retail and realized auction prices based on data from 2019–2024 as cited in the primary source document.
- Coins and Canada — 1931 1-Cent Pricing Page
- NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada Cent KM-28 (1920–1936)
- GreatCollections — 1931 Canada Cent PCGS SP-66 RD (Belzberg / Stewart Blay Collection) — auction record cited for Specimen valuation
- PCGS — The Scarce King George V Canadian Cents
- PCGS — The Rarest Canada Small Cents and What They're Worth
- Numista — 1 Cent George V Canada (KM-28)
- Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian Coin Photo Grading Guide: George V Series
- Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 1-Cent Coin Major Varieties
- Royal Canadian Mint — 1-Cent Coin History
- Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — referenced for variety attribution, mintage data, and grading standards
This guide covers standard (non-error) values only. Coin markets are illiquid and volatile; prices shown represent fair market estimates as of February 2026 and are not guarantees of future realized values. Professional certification by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC is recommended for any coin estimated above $200.
A note on images: To help illustrate coin diagnostics and rare varieties — especially complex errors that are difficult to describe in text alone — this guide uses AI-generated images. All written values, diagnostics, and variety attributions have been manually reviewed against the cited sources above. While our editorial team works to ensure every image is accurate and helpful, AI-generated illustrations may occasionally misrepresent fine details. If you spot any discrepancy between an image and its written description, please contact us or leave a comment below — we review all feedback and correct errors promptly. Numismatic knowledge is a community effort, and your input helps us build a more accurate resource for everyone.