1936 Canadian 10-Cent (Dime) Value Guide

The 1936 Canadian 10-cent piece holds a unique place in numismatic history as the final standard circulation issue of the King George V era — struck during the turbulent "Year of Three Kings," when the death of George V, the brief reign of Edward VIII, and the accession of George VI all occurred within a single calendar year. That constitutional crisis directly produced the series' most celebrated rarity: the 1936 "Dot" variety. The standard 1936 dime, with a mintage of 2,460,871, is an accessible entry point for collectors of the George V series, while condition-rare Gem and Specimen examples reward advanced collectors. For a broader look at values across all years and eras of the Canadian ten-cent coin, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.

Note: Random production anomalies such as off-center strikes are outside the scope of this standard value guide.

1936 Canadian 10-cent coin: obverse (left) with King George V's crowned portrait and the legend GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP:, and reverse (right) with the maple-leaf wreath tied at the bottom with a ribbon bow and the "1936" date. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1936 Canadian Dime Composition & Melt Value

Composition Breakdown

Canadian 10-cent coins minted between 1920 and 1967 — including the 1936 issue — are struck from an alloy of 80% Silver and 20% Copper (fineness: 0.800). This alloy replaced the earlier Sterling Silver standard (0.925 fine) used from 1858 to 1919, improving durability and reducing production costs. The 1936 dime weighs 2.33 grams, yielding an Actual Silver Weight (ASW) of 0.0600 troy ounces (approximately 1.866 grams of pure silver).

Melt Value (February 2026)

As of February 9, 2026, the spot price of silver is approximately $3.57 CAD per gram (approximately $111.02 CAD per troy ounce), based on data from Canada Gold silver spot pricing and GoldBroker CAD historical charts.

Melt Value Formula: Weight (g) × Silver Fineness × Spot Price (CAD/g)
= 2.33 g × 0.800 × $3.57 CAD/g ≈ $6.65 CAD

This figure represents the absolute minimum value floor for any 1936 Canadian dime, regardless of condition. Collectors paying "junk silver" prices for circulated examples should expect a dealer buy price of approximately $6.00 CAD and a sell (retail) price of approximately $7.50–$8.00 CAD for average circulated pieces.

Magnetic Properties

The 80% silver / 20% copper composition makes the 1936 Canadian dime non-magnetic. Applying a strong magnet is your first authentication step: if the coin sticks, it is not a genuine 1936 dime (see the Identification Guide below). This simple test can immediately identify counterfeits struck on steel or wrong-planchet errors before any further examination.

Visual breakdown of the 1936 Canadian dime's silver composition: 80% silver (0.0600 troy oz ASW) and 20% copper, giving a melt floor of approximately $6.65 CAD at February 2026 silver spot prices.

1936 Canadian Dime Value Chart by Grade & Finish

1936 Canadian Dime — Business Strike (Circulation)

The 1936 dime exhibits strong condition rarity. With a mintage of 2,460,871, low-grade examples are abundant and trade near silver melt value. Surviving Mint State examples — particularly those with original cartwheel lustre and a sharp strike — are scarce, with values rising steeply above EF-40.

G4 price is floored by the silver melt value (~$6.65 CAD). Values sourced from NGC World Coin Price Guide (KM 23a) and Charlton Standard Catalogue, February 2026.

Side-by-side grade comparison: a circulated 1936 Canadian dime at approximately VF-20 (left, flat crown details, dull fields) versus an uncirculated MS-63 example (right, cartwheel lustre visible, sharp wreath leaves, defined crown bands). (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1936 Canadian Dime — Specimen (SP)

Specimen coins were specially prepared for collectors, sold in boxed sets. They are distinguished by exceptionally sharp strikes, squared-off rims, and fields with a matte or semi-mirror finish. The 1936 Specimen set holds added historical significance as the final George V collector issue. Mintage is estimated in the low hundreds for complete sets; high-grade survivors are genuinely rare.

Specimen values sourced from Charlton Standard Catalogue and dealer price guides, February 2026. If a coin is sold raw (uncertified) as a "Specimen," insist on ICCS, PCGS, or NGC certification before paying SP premiums.

Values in CAD represent typical market prices as of February 2026. For the complete denomination price guide, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1936 Canadian Dime Varieties

Two non-error catalogue varieties can dramatically transform the value of a 1936 Canadian dime: the legendary "Dot" (a trophy-level rarity accessible only to institutional and advanced collectors) and the "Bar" (a findable die-crack variety accessible to any collector with a loupe).

A. Trophy-Level Variety: The 1936 "Dot" 10-Cent

The 1936 "Dot" dime is one of the rarest coins in Canadian numismatics and a direct product of the constitutional crisis surrounding the abdication of King Edward VIII. As the Mint prepared to transition to Edward VIII coinage, his unexpected abdication in December 1936 left no George VI dies ready for production. To continue striking coins in early 1937 without an approved portrait, Mint officials added a small raised dot below the tied ribbon bow at the bottom of the reverse wreath to distinguish 1937-dated production using the 1936 George V dies.

Mint records indicate approximately 191,237 Dot dimes were struck. However, virtually all were melted before release. Only a handful of Specimen strikes survived — retained by Mint officials or high-level collectors — and are estimated at approximately 5 known examples, with specimens held in both private hands and museums. This coin is considered an ultra-rarity. Learn more about its history in the PCGS article on the Rare Canadian 1936 Dot and Coin World's feature on Canada's 1936 Dot rarity.

The location of the "Dot" on the 1936 Canadian dime reverse: a small raised circular dot appears below the tied ribbon bow, centered just above the rim. This is the only location to check. Authentic examples are Specimen strikes only — circulated "Dot" coins are almost certainly counterfeit. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

B. Findable Variety: The 1936 "Bar" 10-Cent

Unlike the Dot, the 1936 "Bar" variety is a legitimate, findable die-crack variety listed in the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins. During production, a die crack developed on one of the reverse dies, creating a raised line (the "bar") connecting the two bottom tips of the ribbon bow at the base of the wreath. This raised bridge between the ribbon loops is visible to the naked eye and confirms under low magnification (5×–10×).

The Bar variety is popular with Canadian collectors precisely because it can be cherry-picked from dealer stocks and original rolls. An example in Fine grade is available from specialist dealers such as Colonial Acres Coins, confirming the variety's commercial availability at collector premiums.

Bar variety values sourced from Charlton Standard Catalogue, Torex auction records, and Canadian Coin News, February 2026. At VF-20, the Bar commands roughly 3–4× the standard 1936 dime price. In Gem MS-65, it is exceedingly rare and commands a massive premium. Auction results have been confirmed through the Stack's Bowers auction archive.

Close-up of the 1936 "Bar" variety diagnostic: a raised die-crack line (the "bar") visibly connects the two bottom loops of the ribbon bow at the base of the reverse wreath. This bridge is the key pickup point. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1936 Canadian Dime Identification Guide

Use this 30-second checklist before consulting any value table. Knowing exactly what you have — standard Business Strike, Specimen, Bar variety, or a potential Dot — is the single most important step in determining value.

30-Second Identification Checklist

1. Monarch Check (Obverse): Does the coin show a King wearing a crown? The legend should read GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP: The portrait faces left, wearing the Imperial State Crown and Robes of State, as designed by Sir E.B. MacKennal. If the portrait is uncrowned or unfamiliar, you have a different year or a foreign coin.
2. Date Check (Reverse): Confirm "1936" is clearly visible. The date appears on the reverse near the bottom of the coin.
3. Magnet Test (Composition Verification): Hold a strong magnet to the coin.
   • Does not stick: Correct. The 1936 dime is 80% silver and 20% copper — non-magnetic. Proceed.
   • Sticks: Stop. A genuine 1936 Canadian dime will not be attracted to a magnet. A magnetic example is likely a counterfeit or a wrong-planchet error. Do not pay numismatic premiums.
4. Mint Mark Check: No mint marks are documented on 1936 Canadian circulation dimes. There is no "W" or other mark to look for. This is standard for Canadian circulation coinage of this era.
5. Finish Identification (Critical for Value):
   • Business Strike: Fields and devices share the same surface texture. When uncirculated, a rotating "cartwheel" spoke of light is visible when tilted under a single light source. Rim meets edge with a slightly rounded profile due to high-speed production.
   • Specimen (SP): Fields have a matte or semi-mirror finish distinctly different from the raised devices. Strike is extremely sharp — every hair line is defined. The rim meets the edge at a sharp, squared-off 90-degree angle. These were sold in boxed collector sets; a Specimen found loose in a jar of change is extremely unlikely to be authentic at that finish level.
6. Variety Inspection — The "Bar" Check: Using a 5× or 10× loupe, examine the base of the reverse wreath where the ribbon is tied in a bow. Look for a small, raised line connecting the left ribbon loop to the right ribbon loop — like a bridge between the two. If present, you have the 1936 Bar variety. See the Variants section for values.
7. Variety Inspection — The "Dot" Check: Below the ribbon bow, right at the inner edge of the rim, look for a distinct, raised circular dot centered below the bow. If you see such a dot: do not clean the coin; do not assume it is genuine; verify whether the coin is a Specimen strike (matte or semi-mirror fields, squared rims). A dot on a circulated coin is almost certainly a counterfeit or a die chip. Seek professional authentication from ICCS, PCGS, or NGC before taking any action.

Side-by-side finish comparison: Business Strike (left) showing cartwheel luster with matching surface texture on fields and devices, versus Specimen (right) showing matte/semi-mirror fields contrasting with the sharply struck George V portrait, and a visibly squared rim edge. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

The magnet test applied to a 1936 Canadian dime: a strong magnet does not attract the coin (80% silver / 20% copper = non-magnetic). If the coin sticks, it is not a genuine 1936 dime.

1936 Canadian Dime Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide reflect typical market prices as of February 2026 and are synthesized from the following primary sources: the NGC World Coin Price Guide (KM 23a) for grade-by-grade Business Strike and Specimen valuations; the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins for variety attribution (Bar, Dot) and historical mintage data; Numista (1936 10 Cents) for technical specifications; the Royal Canadian Mint (mint.ca) for official technical specifications and historical context; PCGS — The Rare Canadian 1936 Dot Cent and PCGS — The Scarce King George V Canadian Cents for variety and population context; Heritage Auctions and the Stack's Bowers auction archive for realized auction prices; and silver spot data from Canada Gold and GoldBroker for melt value calculations. Numismatic values are subjective and fluctuate with market conditions; this guide serves as a reference, not a guarantee of offer prices.