1935 Canadian 1-Cent (Penny) Value Guide
Find out what your 1935 Canadian penny is worth. Grade-by-grade price guide with Red, Red-Brown, and Brown values for the George V Small Cent. 2024/2025 CAD market prices.
Most circulated 1935 Canadian pennies are worth $0.25–$2.00 CAD. In top Gem Mint State Red condition, values reach $800+ (MS-65 RD) to $1,500+ (MS-66 RD).
- Circulated (G-4 to VF-20):$0.25–$2.00
- EF-40 to AU-55:$5.00–$15.00
- Mint State Brown (MS-65 BN):$275
- Mint State Red-Brown (MS-65 RB):$450
- Gem Mint State Red (MS-65 RD):$800+
- Superb Gem Red (MS-66 RD):$1,500+
Is it silver? No — the 1935 penny is 95.5% copper bronze with zero silver content. Intrinsic metal value is negligible.
Is it shiny or lustrous? Colour preservation is the single biggest value driver for Mint State examples: a Red (RD) coin is worth dramatically more than a Brown (BN) coin at every grade level.
All values in CAD as of 2024/2025. The Canadian penny was withdrawn from circulation on February 4, 2013, but 1935 examples remain widely available to collectors. See full value chart →
The 1935 Canadian one-cent coin — the George V Small Cent — is the final full production year of a series that ended abruptly in 1936 with the death of the King, the abdication crisis, and the legendary 1936 "Dot" coinage. Produced at the Ottawa Mint during the depths of the Great Depression, its mintage of 7,526,400 entered immediate, heavy circulation; few Canadians in 1935 had the luxury of setting aside fresh copper coins for posterity. That economic reality makes pristine, original-red survivors genuinely scarce today. Unlike many Canadian cents where die varieties drive collector premiums, the 1935 issue rewards a single pursuit: condition and colour. For values across all years of the Canadian cent, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.
Note: Striking defects such as machine doubling and ghosting exist for 1935 cents but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.
1935 Canadian Penny Composition & Specifications
The Bronze Alloy
The 1935 cent is struck from classic bronze: 95.5% copper, 3.0% tin, and 1.5% zinc. The high copper content provides the coin's distinctive salmon-orange colour and the ductility needed to transfer fine die detail — the King's beard, the crown's cross pattée, and the veins of the maple leaves. Tin adds hardness and corrosion resistance; zinc acts as a deoxidizer during casting to ensure clean metal flow into the dies. No silver or precious metals are present. This is a base-metal coin, and its intrinsic metal value is negligible compared to any numismatic grade.
The coin's diameter of 19.05 mm was deliberately matched to the contemporary U.S. Lincoln cent, facilitating cross-border trade and compatibility with vending machines and coin-counting equipment standardizing across North America. Its plain (smooth) edge is standard for base-metal coins of the era, as the negligible intrinsic value required no anti-clipping protection. The Medal Alignment (↑↑) means that when the coin is held by its edges with the obverse upright and flipped vertically, the reverse image also appears upright — the opposite of U.S. coin alignment.
Magnetic Properties
The 1935 cent is non-magnetic. Its solid bronze composition (95.5% copper) means a magnet will not attract it. This distinguishes it from post-2000 Canadian cents, which use a copper-plated steel core and are strongly magnetic. If a coin presented as a 1935 bronze cent attracts a magnet, treat this as a significant red flag warranting further examination.
The Colour Problem: Why Copper Coins Are Chemically Unstable
The most critical concept for any collector of the 1935 cent is colour preservation. Copper reacts readily with atmospheric oxygen and sulfur: the original vivid red-orange mint surface (copper metal) oxidizes first to copper oxide (brown) and eventually to copper sulfide (dark brown to near-black). Preserving a coin struck in 1935 in its full original Red (RD) state for over 90 years requires near-hermetic storage, free from humidity, sulfur-bearing paper envelopes, and PVC-laden coin holders. This chemical reality — not die variety or mintage scarcity — is the dominant driver of the exponential price difference between Brown and Red specimens at every Mint State grade level.
Grading services (ICCS, PCGS, NGC) apply a mandatory three-tier colour designation to all Mint State bronze coins. RD (Red) designates coins retaining 95% or more of their original mint-red luster. RB (Red-Brown) covers coins retaining between 5% and 95% of original luster — these often display attractive iridescent blues, purples, and gold toning. BN (Brown) covers fully toned coins. For circulated grades (G-4 through AU-55), no formal colour designation is applied and all prices reflect a standard worn range.
⚠️ Never Clean Your Coins
Cleaning a 1935 cent — whether by polishing, acid dipping, or rubbing — strips the original luster and leaves hairlines visible under 5× magnification. A cleaned coin is designated "Details" (damaged) by all major grading services and loses all numismatic premium regardless of its underlying quality. Artificial re-colouring to simulate Red status is likewise detectable and results in the same damaged designation.
1935 Canadian Penny Value Chart by Grade & Color
The 1935 Canadian cent was produced as a business strike only. No Proof-Like (PL) sets and no publicly distributed Specimen (SP) sets were issued for this year — see the Variants section for the status of the theoretical Specimen issue. Every 1935 cent you encounter is a business strike, and value is entirely a function of grade and, for Mint State coins, colour designation (Red, Red-Brown, or Brown). All values in CAD as of 2024/2025.
ℹ️ No PL or SP Finish for 1935
Unlike later Elizabeth II issues of the 1960s onward, the 1935 cent was not packaged in Proof-Like or Specimen collector sets for public distribution. There is only one finish type to evaluate: the business strike.
1935 Canadian Penny — Circulated Values
| Grade Range | Value (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| G-4 to VF-20 | $0.25–$2.00 | Wear on King's eyebrow, crown band, and maple leaf veins. Historically significant but financially modest. Available at most coin shows. No colour designation applied. |
| EF-40 to AU-55 | $5.00–$15.00 | Slight wear on highest relief points only; some luster may remain in protected areas. Popular for date-set collectors on a budget. |
1935 Canadian Penny — Mint State Values by Color
For Mint State examples, colour designation is mandatory and creates dramatic price differences at every grade level. The table below shows values for Brown (BN), Red-Brown (RB), and Red (RD). All prices assume coins certified by a recognized grading service (ICCS, PCGS, or NGC). Raw uncertified coins typically trade at a significant discount to certified values.
| Grade | Brown (BN) | Red-Brown (RB) | Red (RD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS-60 | $25 | $40 | $60 | Uncirculated but baggy; heavy contact marks from mint-bag handling. Luster may be muted. |
| MS-62 | $35 | $55 | $90 | Moderate contact marks; luster present. |
| MS-63 | $65 | $100 | $175 | Choice Uncirculated. Good luster, fewer distracting marks. |
| MS-64 | $110 | $180 | $350 | Near Gem. Strong luster; one or two minor marks in focal areas. |
| MS-65 | $275 | $450 | $800+ | Gem Uncirculated. Booming luster, virtually no marks in focal areas (King's cheek, open fields). |
| MS-66 | — | $750+ | $1,500+ | Superb Gem. Near-perfection; the functional population ceiling for this date. MS-66 RD is a "name your price" coin between registry-set bidders. |
Values are derived from aggregated auction data and retail listings as of 2024/2025. An ICCS MS-65 Red example was sold by The Toronto Coin Shop in the $675–$800 CAD range, consistent with these estimates. Comparable George V cents graded MS-66 Red have realized over $1,000 in major auction venues including Heritage Auctions and TCNC. See the Coins and Canada 1920–1936 One Cent price guide and the NGC Canada Cent KM-28 price guide for additional market data.
⚠️ The Raw Coin Discount
Raw (uncertified) "Uncirculated" 1935 cents frequently sell on secondary platforms for $10–$20, reflecting the substantial risk of buying an unverified grade. The coin may be cleaned, artificially recoloured to simulate Red status, or lower in grade than it appears. For any coin you believe grades MS-64 Red or higher — where certified values begin at $350 and rise steeply — third-party certification by ICCS, PCGS, or NGC is strongly recommended.
For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.
Most Valuable 1935 Canadian Penny Varieties
The honest numismatic answer for the 1935 cent is that there are no recognized major die varieties. The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — the definitive Canadian reference — does not list any Wide Date, Narrow Date, Re-punched Date, or Doubled Die Obverse for this issue. Major grading services (ICCS, PCGS, NGC) likewise do not recognize any attributed varieties. Rarity is strictly a function of grade and colour preservation. Consult the Saskatoon Coin Club Canadian 1-Cent Major Varieties guide for a broader view of which George V cents do carry recognized varieties (e.g., the 1929 High 9 / Low 9, the 1936 Dot).
Machine Doubling vs. True Doubled Die: Dispelling a Persistent Myth
A persistent marketplace myth is the existence of a "1935 Canadian Double Die" cent. This misconception arises directly from cross-contamination with U.S. Lincoln cent collecting: the 1935 United States Lincoln cent has a well-documented Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) variety. No corresponding DDO exists for the 1935 Canadian cent.
Many 1935 Canadian cents show "shelf-like" doubling on lettering or the date. This is Machine Doubling (also called Mechanical Doubling) — it occurs when a loose die shifts slightly upon impact, smearing already-displaced metal. Machine Doubling is a striking defect, not a die variety. It commands no premium and is actually considered a detriment to a coin's eye appeal, potentially lowering its effective grade.
Ghosting: A Die-Fatigue Phenomenon
Some 1935 cents exhibit a shadow or "ghost" of the King's portrait on the reverse field. This ghosting results from metal displacement caused by the heavy obverse bust pressing into the die, and is a sign of die fatigue and improper metal flow — not a collectible variety. Severe ghosting can lower a coin's assigned grade by disrupting the reverse design's visual appeal.
The Specimen Issue: Theoretically Possible, Commercially Non-Existent
The PCGS population report for the 1935 cent in Specimen designation shows zero graded examples. Unlike the 1937 and 1967 issues — where complete Specimen sets were mass-marketed to the public — no 1935 Specimen cent set was offered for public sale. A small number of presentation-quality strikes may have been produced for VIP recipients or Mint archive purposes, but these coins are commercially non-existent. If a certified Specimen were to surface at auction, it would represent a major numismatic event. For all practical collecting purposes, the 1935 cent is a business strike-only issue, and value is driven entirely by grade and colour.
ℹ️ Grade Is Everything
Because no die varieties command a premium for this date, the 1935 cent rewards a focused pursuit of quality. The MS-65 Red coin is not rare by variety — it is rare because over 90 years of hard Depression-era circulation, copper re-melting cycles, chemical oxidation, and damaging storage have eliminated nearly every original-red example from the surviving supply.
1935 Canadian Penny Identification Guide
Use this 30-second checklist to confirm you are holding a genuine, problem-free 1935 Canadian cent and to assess which colour tier applies.
30-Second Identification Checklist
- Monarch Check (Obverse): The obverse shows King George V facing left, wearing the Imperial State Crown and ermine-lined Robes of State. The legend reads GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND:IMP: (George V, by the Grace of God, King and Emperor of India). The designer's initials B.M. (Sir Bertram MacKennal) appear in small raised relief on the truncation of the King's shoulder. If the portrait or legend differs, you have a different denomination or a different monarch's coin.
- Reverse Check: The reverse shows two sugar maple leaves on a single twig, with ONE CENT at the top and CANADA below within a beaded circle, and the date 1935 beneath the twig. This is the Fred Lewis / W.H.J. Blakemore design used from 1920 to 1936. Do not confuse it with the post-1937 George VI reverse by G.E. Kruger-Gray, which features a different leaf arrangement.
- Edge Check: The edge should be plain (smooth) with no reeding. A reeded edge would indicate a different denomination entirely.
- Die Alignment Check: Hold the coin with the obverse date upright, then flip it vertically (top over bottom). The reverse image should remain upright — this is correct Medal Alignment (↑↑). This is the standard for Canadian cents and differs from U.S. coin alignment (↑↓), which can cause confusion when coins are mixed.
- Magnet Test (Composition Verification): Apply a magnet to the coin. The 1935 cent is non-magnetic; its solid bronze composition (95.5% copper) will not be attracted to a magnet. Strong magnetic attraction indicates the coin is not a genuine 1935 bronze cent and warrants further examination by a specialist.
- Mint Marks:No documented mint marks appear on the 1935 cent. The Ottawa Mint did not apply a facility mark to circulation coins in this era. Do not expect any letter below the King's bust truncation. The presence of an unexpected mark should be investigated.
- Colour Designation Assessment: Under natural light or a daylight LED, examine the coin's surfaces:
- Red (RD): Vivid salmon-orange across 95% or more of the surface. Exceptional survivors only — the investment grade.
- Red-Brown (RB): A mix of original orange-red and brown toning; may display attractive iridescent blues, purples, and gold.
- Brown (BN): Uniformly chocolate-brown or darker across the full surface. The most common state for surviving Mint State examples.
- Wear Point Check (for grading): Examine the King's eyebrow and the arched band of the Imperial Crown on the obverse — these are the highest-relief points and show wear first. On the reverse, check the central veins of the maple leaves. If these details are flattened or beginning to merge into the surrounding field, the coin is circulated (below MS-60) regardless of how original its colour appears.
💡 ICCS vs. PCGS vs. NGC
ICCS (International Coin Certification Service) is the most recognized grading authority for Canadian coins and the preferred choice among many Canadian collectors and auction houses. PCGS and NGC (both U.S.-based) also certify Canadian coins, and their holders are widely accepted internationally. For any 1935 cent you believe grades MS-64 Red or higher — where certified values begin at $350 — professional third-party grading is strongly advisable to authenticate colour designation and confirm the absence of cleaning, artificial toning, or environmental damage.
1935 Canadian Penny Value FAQs
What is a 1935 Canadian penny worth?
Most circulated 1935 Canadian pennies are worth $0.25–$2.00 CAD (G-4 to VF-20) and $5.00–$15.00 in EF-40 to AU-55. In Mint State, value depends heavily on colour: a Brown MS-65 is worth approximately $275, a Red-Brown MS-65 approximately $450, and a Red MS-65 can reach $800+. A Superb Gem MS-66 Red is valued at $1,500+. All values in CAD as of 2024/2025.
Is a 1935 Canadian penny rare?
In circulated grades, no — the mintage of 7,526,400 means worn examples appear regularly at coin shows and in general collections. In Gem Mint State Red (MS-65 RD or MS-66 RD), it is genuinely scarce. The combination of heavy Depression-era circulation, multiple decades of copper re-melting when commodity prices spiked, chemical oxidation, and damaging storage means that the vast majority of survivors today are worn and brown. A coin that has retained its original mint-red luster for over 90 years is statistically improbable, which is precisely why MS-65 Red and MS-66 Red examples command strong premiums from serious collectors.
What makes a 1935 Canadian penny valuable?
Unlike many coins where rare die varieties drive top values, the 1935 cent has no recognized major die varieties — no Double Dies, no Overdates, no Repunched Dates. Its value is driven purely by grade and colour preservation. The two questions that determine value are: (1) Has the coin avoided all wear (Mint State)? (2) Has the original red copper luster been preserved (Red designation)? Coins that satisfy both conditions are rare and command exponentially higher prices than worn brown examples of the same date.
Does the 1935 Canadian penny contain silver?
No. The 1935 cent is composed of 95.5% copper, 3.0% tin, and 1.5% zinc — a bronze alloy with no silver content whatsoever. Its intrinsic metal value is negligible. If you are thinking of a 1935 Canadian silver coin, the key issue that year is the 1935 Silver Jubilee Dollar, a completely separate coin struck to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of King George V's reign.
Should I get my 1935 Canadian penny graded?
The economics depend on the coin's estimated value. For circulated examples worth $0.25–$15.00, grading fees from ICCS, PCGS, or NGC will far exceed any potential benefit. However, for any coin you believe grades MS-64 Red or higher — where certified values begin at $350 and rise steeply — professional certification is strongly advisable. It authenticates the colour designation, confirms the absence of cleaning or artificial toning, and provides the liquidity needed to sell at full market value. Consult the NGC Canada Cent KM-28 price guide to benchmark your coin before committing to grading fees.
What is the difference between Red (RD), Red-Brown (RB), and Brown (BN)?
These are the three mandatory colour designations applied by grading services to Mint State bronze coins. Red (RD) means the coin retains 95% or more of its original mint-red copper luster — the most valuable tier. Red-Brown (RB) means 5%–95% of original luster remains; these coins often display attractive iridescent blues, purples, and gold toning and trade at a significant premium over Brown. Brown (BN) means the surface has fully oxidized to chocolate-brown or darker — still uncirculated and collectable, but the baseline value tier. Colour cannot be naturally restored; any attempt to chemically or mechanically improve colour constitutes coin damage and results in a "Details" designation from grading services.
Is there a double die variety for the 1935 Canadian penny?
No. This is one of the most persistent myths in Canadian cent collecting, arising from cross-contamination with U.S. numismatics. The 1935 United States Lincoln cent has a well-known Doubled Die Obverse (DDO), but no corresponding Doubled Die exists for the 1935 Canadian cent. What collectors commonly observe on 1935 Canadian cents is Machine Doubling (Mechanical Doubling) — a striking defect where a loose die shifts slightly on impact, creating a flat, shelf-like smear on the edge of letters or numerals. Machine Doubling commands no premium and is actually considered a detriment to eye appeal.
Are there Specimen (SP) issues of the 1935 cent?
In practical collecting terms, no. The PCGS population report for the 1935 cent Specimen designation shows zero graded examples. Unlike the 1937 and 1967 complete Specimen sets that were mass-marketed to collectors, no Specimen cent was included in any 1935 set offered for public sale. A handful of presentation strikes may have been produced for VIP or Mint archive purposes, but these are effectively non-existent in the commercial market. The 1935 cent is a business strike-only issue for all practical purposes.
Can I still spend or redeem a 1935 Canadian penny?
The Canadian penny was officially withdrawn from circulation on February 4, 2013. While pennies remain legal tender, the Royal Canadian Mint no longer distributes them and retailers are not obligated to accept them. Most Canadian financial institutions will redeem pennies at face value. However, any 1935 cent in a collectible grade is worth far more than one cent numismatically, and should be preserved in a collection rather than redeemed.
Methodology & Sources
Values in this guide are based on market data aggregated from the following primary sources as of 2024/2025. All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Market conditions fluctuate; cross-reference with current auction results before major transactions.
- Coins and Canada — 1¢ 1920–1936 Price Guide (primary valuation reference)
- NGC — Canada Cent KM-28 Price Guide
- The Toronto Coin Shop — ICCS MS-65 Red Sale Record
- PCGS Population Report — 1935 Cent Specimen
- Numista — 1 Cent George V Canada (specifications and design details)
- Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 1-Cent Major Varieties
- Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian Circulation Coin Mintages
- Colonial Acres Coins — 1935 Canada 1-Cent Retail Reference
- Royal Canadian Mint — History of Annual Coins and Sets
- Royal Canadian Mint — 1-Cent Coin Reference
- Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — variety attribution and grade standards (print reference)
This guide covers standard business strike values only. Striking defects (machine doubling, ghosting) are not collectable varieties and are not priced. Values are estimates reflecting typical market transactions; individual coins may realize above or below published ranges depending on eye appeal, toning character, and competitive bidding at time of sale.
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.