1933 Canadian 1-Cent (Penny) Value Guide
Find out what your 1933 Canadian penny is worth. Complete grade-by-grade price guide for the George V bronze 1-cent coin — Red, Red-Brown, and Brown — with current CAD market values as of February 2026.
Most circulated 1933 Canadian pennies are worth $0.20–$18.00 CAD depending on wear. Uncirculated examples start at $20–$40 in Brown condition and reach $500–$850 for a certified Gem Red (MS65 RD) — the coin's trophy grade.
- Heavily worn (G4):$0.20–$0.50
- Collectible circulated (VF20):$2.00–$3.00
- About Uncirculated (AU50):$10.00–$18.00
- Uncirculated (MS63):$75–$110
- Gem Uncirculated (MS65 Red):$500–$850 — certification strongly recommended
Found in a drawer or jar? Most 1933 cents saw intensive Depression-era use and grade G4–VF, worth a modest premium over face value. It looks shiny or reddish-orange? Original copper-red lustre is the single biggest value driver — a Full Red (RD) example is worth two to four times a Brown coin of the same technical grade. Is it silver or precious metal? No — the 1933 cent is solid bronze (95.5% copper, non-magnetic) with a melt value of roughly 3–4 cents CAD. The Canadian penny was withdrawn from circulation on February 4, 2013; the 1933 cent has been a numismatic collectible long before that date. All values in Canadian Dollars (CAD) as of February 2026. See full value chart →
The 1933 Canadian penny: obverse features the Crowned Portrait of King George V by Sir E.B. MacKennal (left), and the Two Maple Leaves reverse designed by Fred Lewis (right). All 12,079,310 examples were struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa — no mint mark appears on any 1933 cent.
The 1933 Canadian penny is a George V-era bronze small cent struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa during the depths of the Great Depression. With a mintage of 12,079,310, it is not a scarce date in worn grades — yet it becomes a formidable condition rarity in high Mint State with original Red copper lustre, a status that makes top-grade examples prized by registry-set collectors. The obverse carries the Crowned Portrait of King George V by Sir E.B. MacKennal; the reverse features Fred Lewis's Two Maple Leaves design, which served as the standard Canadian cent reverse from 1920 through 1936. For values across the full George V cent series and later dates, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.
Note: Mint errors such as off-centre strikes and wrong-planchet coins exist for 1933 but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
1933 Canadian Penny Composition & Melt Value
The 1933 Canadian cent is struck in a traditional Bronze alloy — 95.5% copper, 3.0% tin, and 1.5% zinc — a formulation sometimes called "French Bronze" that was the British Commonwealth standard for copper coinage for decades. The high copper content gives the coin its characteristic rich reddish-orange colour when freshly struck. The 3% tin adds hardness and durability, allowing the coin to withstand decades of active circulation without wearing smooth too quickly; tin also improved the metal's flow into die recesses, capturing the fine detail of MacKennal's portrait and the leaf veins of Fred Lewis's reverse. The 1.5% zinc acts as a deoxidizer during casting, ensuring dense, homogeneous planchets free from porosity.
Magnet Test — Composition Authentication
The 1933 cent is non-magnetic. Bronze (copper-tin-zinc) contains no iron and will not be attracted to a magnet. Any 1933 cent that sticks to a magnet is either a counterfeit or a misidentified modern plated-steel coin. Always confirm a negative result with a weight check: a genuine example weighs approximately 3.24 grams. This two-step test (magnet + scale) is the fastest way to authenticate composition in the field.
Melt Value
Each 1933 cent contains approximately 3.09 grams of copper (95.5% of 3.24 g). Based on early 2026 copper commodity prices in the range of approximately $5.00–$6.00 USD per pound (approximately $11.00–$13.00 CAD per kilogram), the intrinsic copper value of a single coin is roughly 3–4 cents CAD. See the Canadian-Coins.ca melt value calculator for up-to-date metal spot prices. While technically above the coin's face value, the numismatic floor price for even the most worn, problem-free 1933 cent far exceeds the scrap copper value. The Canadian Currency Act also prohibits the melting of coin of the realm. In practical terms, melt value is an irrelevant baseline — the 1933 cent trades as a collectible artifact, not bullion.
Why Colour Preservation Drives Value
With 95.5% copper, the surface of the 1933 cent is chemically reactive. Fresh from the press, a coin displays brilliant Red (RD) lustre. Exposure to oxygen and sulfur compounds — in air, paper envelopes, and early cardboard albums — causes progressive oxidation: Red → Red-Brown (RB) → Brown (BN). This process is essentially irreversible: attempting to restore colour by dipping or polishing destroys the coin's original surface skin and all numismatic premium. A 1933 cent retaining intact Full Red lustre after more than 90 years is a genuine rarity, making colour the primary value variable at uncirculated grades — even more important than the technical Mint State number itself.
1933 Canadian Penny Value Chart by Grade
The 1933 Canadian cent was produced exclusively as a circulation business strike. No Proof-Like (PL) or Specimen (SP) sets were issued as standard collector products for this year. Value is driven almost entirely by technical grade and colour designation (Red vs. Red-Brown vs. Brown). There are no mint marks to distinguish on any 1933 cent — all were struck at Ottawa.
Grade comparison: a heavily worn G4 example (left, flat portrait and merged crown detail) versus an uncirculated MS63 (right, sharp crown band and defined maple leaf veins). (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
1933 Canadian Penny — Business Strike (Circulation)
| Type / Design | G4 | VG8 | F12 | VF20 | EF40 | AU50 | MS60 | MS63 | MS65 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George V / Two Maple Leaves | $0.20–$0.50 | $0.50–$0.75 | $0.75–$1.50 | $2.00–$3.00 | $5.00–$8.00 | $10.00–$18.00 | $20.00–$40.00 | $75–$110 | $500–$850 | MS65 values assume Full Red (RD). MS66 Red: ~$550–$850. MS65 Brown (BN): ~$200. MS65 Red-Brown (RB): ~$150–$300. |
ℹ️ Colour Designation & Value at Uncirculated Grades
Colour is the most important value variable for the 1933 cent in Mint State. The MS65 price of $500–$850 assumes a Full Red (RD) designation — greater than 95% original mint bloom. A coin certified MS65 Brown (BN) trades at approximately $200. A coin designated MS65 Red-Brown (RB) typically falls in the $150–$300 range. Always confirm the colour designation printed on the certified slab before purchasing or insuring any high-grade example.
Colour designation comparison, left to right: Full Red (RD, highest value — looks like a new penny), Red-Brown (RB, partially toned), Brown (BN, lowest uncirculated value — fully oxidized after 90+ years of exposure). (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
The Value Cliff: MS63 to MS65
Notice the exponential jump from MS63 ($75–$110) to MS65 Red ($500–$850). Most uncirculated 1933 cents have enough bag marks, minor corrosion spots, or colour degradation to limit them to the MS62–MS64 range. A true Gem — spot-free copper surfaces with blazing Red lustre — requires a near-miraculous chain of preservation from the press in 1933 to the present day. The scarcity of that outcome explains the steep price step.
Strike Quality Premium
The 1933 issue frequently exhibits a "mushy" strike — soft detail on the King's crown band and the maple leaf veins — caused by aging master dies and lower striking pressures used to extend die life. A coin with a sharp, fully defined crown band commands an eye-appeal premium of approximately 20% above the standard grade value for that level. Sophisticated collectors also reject technically high-grade coins that carry distracting carbon spots or uneven toning, sometimes paying more for a lower-grade coin with superior eye appeal.
Sources: NGC Price Guide — Canada Cent KM 28; ICCS MS-65 Red sale record (jetonscanada.com); Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins; Coins and Canada.
⚠️ Never Clean Your Coins
Cleaning a 1933 cent — with metal polish, household chemicals, or abrasives — does not restore Red colour. It destroys the original surface skin and leaves hairlines visible under magnification. Grading services designate cleaned coins as "Details — Cleaned" (a form of damage), which destroys all numismatic premium regardless of the underlying detail. Cleaned 1933 cents trade at face/melt value at most.
All values in CAD. Market prices as of February 2026. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.
Most Valuable 1933 Canadian Penny Varieties
The 1933 Canadian cent does not have a single famous die variety — like the 1936 Dot Cent — that defines the issue in the manner a specific manufacturing anomaly might. Instead, the rarity profile is purely condition-based. The "Holy Grail" for this year is a standard coin preserved in exceptional condition with full original Red lustre — not a manufacturing curiosity, but a survivor of time. The following trophy examples and findable characteristics represent the full range of value upside documented for this date.
A. Trophy-Level Examples
| What | Why It Commands a Premium | Grade / Requirement | Documented Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 MS66 Red | Population scarcity. Fewer than 10–15 coins likely exist at this grade across all services. Flawless surfaces combined with 100% original Red colour after more than 90 years is statistically improbable. | Flawless surfaces + 100% Original Red Lustre + above-average strike. Certification by PCGS or ICCS required. | ~$550–$850 CAD | NGC Price Guide — Canada Cent KM 28; Heritage Auctions Canadian cent archive |
| 1933 MS65 Red | The standard investment grade. Difficult to locate with spot-free copper surfaces and blazing lustre. The typical target for advanced George V registry collectors. | No visible spots, blazing Red lustre, minimal bag marks in unobtrusive areas. | ~$500 CAD (retail) | ICCS MS-65 Red sale record — jetonscanada.com (2021) |
| 1933 Specimen (SP) — Controversial | No standard Specimen sets were issued to the public for 1933. Any authenticated SP would be a presentation piece or archival striking, potentially unique or near-unique. | Squared wire rims, glassy mirror or matte fields, certified PCGS or ICCS SP designation required to establish any market validity. | No verifiable recent public auction records. Hypothetically estimated at $5,000+ if authenticated by a major service. | Context only — specialist authentication required before any valuation claim |
⚠️ Reality Check on 1933 Cent Values
While US Lincoln cents from 1933 can fetch very large sums in top grade due to extreme rarity, the Canadian 1933 cent is far more modest in its valuation. A world-class, top-population 1933 Canadian cent typically falls in the $800–$1,200 CAD range — not in five figures. This makes it an accessible "key-condition" coin for advanced collectors without requiring an extraordinary budget.
A Gem MS65 Red example — the investment-grade benchmark for the 1933 cent. Blazing original copper lustre, sharply defined crown band, and minimal surface marks define the top of the market at $500–$850 CAD. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
B. Findable Characteristics Worth Checking
The 1933 cent was produced with a relatively high degree of die uniformity and does not carry major, Charlton-catalogued die varieties. However, the following characteristics are recognized by specialists and can affect market value at the margins.
| Feature / Variant | How to Identify | Why It Matters | Premium Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Red (RD) Surface | Hold under strong, direct light at an angle. Colour must match a brand-new penny; greater than 95% original red required for RD designation. | Fewer than 1% of all surviving 1933 cents are estimated to retain Full Red after 90+ years of chemical exposure. | +100% to +300% vs Brown examples of the same technical grade |
| Early Die State | Look for crisp, sharp detail on the King's hair strands and a clearly separated crown band with no radiating flow lines toward the rim. Most 1933s are "mushy" from worn dies. | Dies deteriorated quickly in the 1930s under the economics of the Depression. Sharp-striking dies were not the norm. | Approximately +20% eye-appeal premium over the standard grade price |
| Repunched Date | Examine the "1933" numerals under a 10× loupe for ghost or shadow digits beneath the primary date numerals. | Minor die preparation variants sought by specialists. Not currently listed as major varieties in Charlton or primary Coins and Canada references. | Small premium — approximately $5–$15 depending on clarity and visibility |
Note on claimed "Double Dies": Online listings frequently advertise a "1933 Double Die." In almost all cases these show machine doubling (mechanical doubling) — a flat, shelf-like secondary image caused by die bounce at the moment of strike. Machine doubling is a common production characteristic and adds no numismatic value. A true hub-doubled die would show rounded, fully separated images with split serifs. No major catalogued true doubled die is currently recognized for the 1933 cent in Charlton or in Canadian 1-cent major variety references.
1933 Canadian Penny Identification Guide
Use this 30-second checklist to confirm identity, authenticity, and rough grade before seeking a professional opinion or submitting for certification.
30-Second Identification Checklist
Obverse — King George V Crowned Portrait. The obverse shows a crowned portrait of King George V facing left, wearing the Imperial State Crown and Robes of State. The portrait was designed by Sir E.B. MacKennal. The inscription reads GEORGIVS V DEI GRA REX ET IND IMP. ✓ Correct portrait confirms you have a George V small cent (1920–1936), not a George VI or Elizabeth II issue.
Reverse — Two Maple Leaves. The reverse shows "ONE CENT" flanked by two maple leaves near the top, with "CANADA" below and the date "1933" at the base. Designed by Fred Lewis, this reverse ran unchanged from 1920 through 1936. ✓ Confirm date reads 1933 and not 1932 or 1938.
No Mint Mark. All 1933 Canadian cents were struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. There are no documented mint marks — a clean field below the date is correct and expected. Any visible mint-mark letter is a misidentified coin or alteration.
Magnet Test — Composition Verification.
Apply a strong magnet to the coin.- ✅ Does NOT stick → consistent with genuine bronze (95.5% Cu, 3.0% Sn, 1.5% Zn). Secondary confirmation: weigh the coin — genuine examples weigh approximately 3.24 grams.
- ❌ Sticks to magnet → Not a genuine bronze 1933 cent. Either a counterfeit or a misidentified modern plated-steel coin. No collector value.
Finish Identification — Business Strike vs. Hypothetical Specimen.
- Business Strike (effectively all surviving coins): Shows cartwheel lustre — rotating spokes of light when tilted slowly under a direct lamp — if uncirculated. May carry small bag marks or flow lines from metal movement in the die. Rims are rounded or slightly soft.
- Specimen (SP) — Extremely Unlikely: Would show glassy mirror-like fields (or distinctly matte-finished fields), sharply squared wire rims, and exceptional strike sharpness with no mushiness anywhere on the design. If you suspect a Specimen, it must be submitted to PCGS or ICCS for authentication before any market value can be attached to it. A polished business strike can be deceptive to the untrained eye.
Colour Quick-Check — The Most Critical Step for Any Uncirculated Coin.
- 🟤 Flat and brown, date barely visible: G4–VG8. Value: $0.20–$0.75.
- 🟤 Crown band distinct from hair, leaf veins showing: F12–VF20. Value: $0.75–$3.00.
- 🟤 No wear but dark chocolate or coffee brown colour: Uncirculated Brown (MS60–MS63 BN). Value: $20–$110.
- 🟠 Shiny and reddish-orange, same colour as a new penny dropped in change today: Uncirculated Red (MS63–MS65+ RD). Value: $100–$850+. Get it certified immediately.
The magnet test: a genuine 1933 bronze cent does not stick to a magnet. Magnetic attraction means the coin is not genuine bronze and has no collector value. Confirm with a weight check: 3.24 grams expected.
Business strike lustre: genuine uncirculated 1933 cents show rotating "cartwheel" spokes of light when tilted slowly under a direct lamp. Flat, dead, or streaky lustre — especially with fine parallel scratches — typically indicates cleaning. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)
⚠️ Red Coin Preservation Warning
If you believe you have a Full Red (RD) example, do not touch the surface with bare hands. Oils and acids from your fingers can initiate copper oxidation that permanently turns the surface brown within months, potentially destroying hundreds of dollars in numismatic value. Place the coin immediately in a rigid capsule (Lighthouse or Air-Tite style) and handle it only by the edge. Store in a cool, dry environment away from sulfur sources (wool, rubber bands, cardboard).
1933 Canadian Penny Value FAQs
What is a 1933 Canadian penny worth?
Most 1933 Canadian pennies found in old collections grade between Good (G4) and Very Fine (VF20) and are worth $0.20–$3.00 CAD. About Uncirculated examples reach $10.00–$18.00. Uncirculated Brown coins trade from $20 at MS60 to $75–$110 at MS63. In the top Gem Red (MS65 RD) grade, the coin is worth $500–$850 CAD. All values are as of February 2026.
Is a 1933 Canadian penny rare?
The 1933 cent has a mintage of 12,079,310 — it is not a key date in circulated grades and is readily available to entry-level collectors for a modest premium. However, it becomes a genuine condition rarity in Gem Mint State with full original Red lustre. The combination of flawless surfaces and intact copper colour after more than 90 years is statistically improbable given that Depression-era coins circulated intensively for decades. Fewer than 10–15 coins are believed to exist at the MS66 Red grade across all services. See the NGC Price Guide for Canada Cent KM 28 for the full series context.
What makes a 1933 Canadian penny valuable?
Three factors drive value above the baseline. First, grade: the fewer contact marks and the sharper the detail, the scarcer the coin in that state. Second, colour: Full Red (RD) examples command a 100%–300% premium over Brown (BN) coins of the same technical grade; copper oxidizes readily and Red survivors are statistically rare. Third, strike quality: an early die state coin with a sharply defined crown band carries an approximately 20% eye-appeal premium. Carbon spots, cleaning, or damage destroy value regardless of the technical Mint State number.
Is my 1933 Canadian penny silver, gold, or bronze?
The 1933 cent is solid bronze — 95.5% copper, 3.0% tin, and 1.5% zinc. It contains no silver or gold whatsoever. Its melt value is approximately 3–4 cents CAD based on early 2026 copper prices. The coin is non-magnetic; if a magnet attracts it, the coin is not a genuine bronze 1933 cent. Use the Canadian-Coins.ca melt value calculator for current metal spot prices.
What is the difference between Red, Red-Brown, and Brown for the 1933 penny?
These colour designations describe how much original copper lustre remains on the surface. Red (RD) means greater than 95% original mint bloom survives — the coin looks like it was minted yesterday. Red-Brown (RB) means between 5% and 95% of the original red colour remains alongside toned areas. Brown (BN) means the surface has fully oxidized to a stable dark patina — the standard state for the vast majority of surviving 1933 cents. Colour cannot be restored by cleaning without destroying the coin's numismatic value, so original surfaces in any state are preferable to a chemically altered coin.
Should I get my 1933 Canadian penny graded?
Certification makes economic sense when your coin could plausibly grade MS63 or better with visible remaining Red colour — the point where numismatic value ($75–$110+) meaningfully exceeds typical grading fees. In circulated grades or Brown uncirculated states, grading fees routinely exceed the coin's market value. The key trigger: if the coin is reddish-orange with no visible wear under a 10× loupe, submit it. ICCS (International Coin Certification Service) is the domestic Canadian standard and the most liquid credential within the Canadian dealer network. PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) often achieves 20%–30% higher auction realizations than equivalent ICCS grades, particularly from US-based registry set buyers who compete for the highest-graded examples on the PCGS Population Registry.
What is the value cliff, and why does it exist for the 1933 cent?
The value cliff refers to the large jump from MS63 ($75–$110) to MS65 Red ($500–$850). Most uncirculated 1933 cents carry enough bag marks, minor corrosion spots, or colour degradation to limit them to the MS62–MS64 range. A true Gem — spotless copper with blazing Red lustre and a sharp strike — requires an almost perfect preservation chain from the mint press in 1933 to the present. The extreme scarcity of that outcome is what drives the dramatic premium between grade levels at the top of the scale.
How do I tell if my 1933 penny has been cleaned or polished?
Examine the coin under a 10× loupe in good light. Fine parallel scratches (hairlines) across the fields indicate wiping or polishing. A cleaned coin also shows an unnatural, bright, flat lemon-yellow or pale colour rather than the warm, deep orange-red of original mint lustre. The cartwheel lustre pattern (rotating spokes of light) is disrupted or entirely absent in cleaned coins. If you suspect cleaning, submit the coin to ICCS or PCGS — a confirmed cleaning results in a "Details — Cleaned" designation, and the coin trades at a steep discount regardless of its underlying sharpness and detail.
Is the 1933 Canadian penny still legal tender?
Yes — the 1933 cent remains legal tender in Canada. The Canadian penny as a denomination was withdrawn from circulation on February 4, 2013, meaning it is no longer distributed by banks or the Royal Canadian Mint, and businesses are no longer required to accept it in cash transactions. However, all pre-2013 pennies, including 1933 examples, retain their face value of 1¢ and can still be redeemed at face value at financial institutions. In practice, the 1933 cent's numismatic value as a collectible far exceeds its legal tender face value of 1¢.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide are expressed in Canadian Dollars (CAD) and reflect typical retail and auction market prices as of February 2026. Pricing data is drawn from the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins (primary authority on mintage, specifications, and variety attribution), Numista — 1 Cent George V Canada, the NGC Price Guide (Canada Cent KM 28), NGC Coin Detail — KM 28 (alternate view), PCGS — The Scarce King George V Canadian Cents, Heritage Auctions Canadian cent archive, Royal Canadian Mint — 1 Cent, and Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 1-Cent Major Varieties. Market prices represent typical retail or auction results for problem-free, uncleaned coins; individual sales may vary based on eye appeal, certified population levels, and buyer competition at any given auction. Values are not guarantees of sale price.
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.