1936 Canadian 1-Cent (Penny) Value Guide

The 1936 Canadian penny is the terminal issue of the George V Small Cent series (1920–1936), struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa amid the extraordinary constitutional upheaval of the "Year of Three Kings." It carries Sir E.B. MacKennal's crowned, robed portrait of King George V — a design present on Canadian coinage since 1911 — alongside Fred Lewis's Two Maple Leaves reverse, both making their final appearance before the 1937 design overhaul introduced the G.E. Kruger-Gray maple twig motif. Collectors prize the 1936 cent both as the closing chapter of the George V era and as the year that produced one of the most storied rarities in Canadian numismatics: the 1936 Dot Cent. For a complete overview of 1-cent values across all Canadian years, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide. Note: the Canadian penny was withdrawn from circulation on February 4, 2013, but remains legal tender; 1936 examples are widely held in collections.

Note: Mint errors such as off-center strikes, broadstrikes, brockages, and clips exist for the 1936 cent but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.

1936 Canadian Penny Composition & Melt Value

Alloy Breakdown

The 1936 cent is struck in bronze — a copper-based alloy of 95.5% Copper, 3.0% Tin, and 1.5% Zinc. This was the standard Canadian small cent composition from 1920 until 1942, when the demands of World War II led to reformulation. Tin contributes hardness and improves die-filling during the striking process, enabling sharp reproduction of George V's elaborate robe, crown, and facial features. Zinc acts as a deoxidizer in casting. Crucially, this alloy is highly susceptible to atmospheric oxidation — the same reactivity that makes original Red (RD) survivors so scarce and valuable nearly nine decades after minting.

Melt Value

With copper trading at approximately $5.74–$5.85 CAD per pound in early 2026 (source: Trading Economics — Copper Price Data), the intrinsic metal value of a 1936 cent calculates to approximately $0.04 CAD: the coin's 3.24 g weight at 95.5% copper purity yields roughly 3.09 g of pure copper (approximately 0.0068 lbs), which at ~$5.80 CAD/lb returns about four Canadian cents. While this is four times the coin's face value, it is negligible compared to any collector premium — even a heavily worn G-4 example commands at least $0.25 CAD in the numismatic market. Melting is economically irrational and restricted under Canada's Currency Act.

Magnet Test — Authentication Diagnostic

Apply a standard magnet to the coin. A genuine 1936 Canadian cent is non-magnetic. The bronze alloy (copper, tin, zinc) contains no iron or steel. If the coin sticks to a magnet, it is almost certainly a counterfeit struck on a modern steel or plated-steel planchet. This is one of the fastest first-step authentication checks available without specialized equipment — particularly useful given the high counterfeit risk associated with the valuable 1936 Dot variety.

Magnet test for the 1936 Canadian penny: a genuine bronze cent will not stick to a magnet. A magnetic response is a strong indicator of a counterfeit struck on a steel planchet.

Weight as a Diagnostic Tool

The standard weight is 3.24 grams (tolerance ±0.1 g). A coin weighing significantly below 3.1 g may indicate a counterfeit or a genuine planchet error. For anyone examining a suspected 1936 Dot cent specifically, weight verification with a precision scale is an essential preliminary step before professional submission — known counterfeit Dot cents have frequently deviated measurably from the standard mass.

1936 Canadian Penny Value Chart by Grade & Finish

Values in CAD reflect market averages as of February 2026, synthesized from the Charlton Standard Catalogue, Coins and Canada — 1 cent 1920–1936 pricing data, the NGC Price Guide for Canada Cent KM 28, and Heritage Auctions realized prices.

1936 Canadian Penny — Business Strike (Circulation)

The standard 1936 George V cent was struck for general circulation at the Ottawa Mint with a total mintage of 8,768,769 pieces. No mint marks are present; Ottawa was the sole Canadian Mint production facility in 1936. The table below covers circulated grades through Mint State. For MS60 through MS65, prices assume a Red-Brown (RB) or Brown (BN) surface. Full Red (RD) coins command a substantial additional premium — see the color premium table that follows.

MS grade values assume Red-Brown (RB) or Brown (BN) surfaces. Sources: Charlton Standard Catalogue; Coins and Canada; NGC Price Guide KM 28.

Grade comparison for the 1936 Canadian penny: heavily worn circulated example (left, approx. G4) with smooth high points versus an uncirculated example (right, approx. MS63) retaining sharp detail in George V's crown, beard, and the maple leaf veins. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Full Red (RD) Color Premium — Uncirculated Examples

Color designation is the single most important value driver for uncirculated 1936 cents. Copper is the most reactive common coinage metal; retaining original mint-red surfaces for nearly nine decades requires exceptional storage conditions — a statistical improbability that the market rewards with a dramatic price premium. The table below shows the difference between Brown/Red-Brown and Full Red examples at the same technical grade.

RD values represent typical auction realizations. Carbon spots or active green verdigris (copper acetate) will revert a coin toward BN pricing regardless of remaining color. A MS65 with active green corrosion may be unacceptable for grading by major services.

Color designation comparison for the 1936 Canadian penny: Full Red (RD) with original mint lustre (left), Red-Brown (RB) with partial toning (centre), and Brown (BN) with full oxidation (right). Color is the single most important value driver for uncirculated examples. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

1936 Canadian Penny — Specimen (SP)

Specimen coins represent the highest-quality finish produced by the Ottawa Mint in 1936, struck twice on specially prepared planchets with results including hard mirror-like fields and sharply squared rims. These were not sold in formal Mint sets in 1936 — they were produced in extremely small quantities for presentation to dignitaries or Mint officials. In 1936, "Proof-Like" (PL) was not a formal Mint product category; any business strike with mirror surfaces from fresh dies is at most a "PL strike," not a true Specimen. True 1936 Specimens require professional certification by PCGS or ICCS. Purchasing a raw (uncertified) 1936 Specimen is financially hazardous — certification is mandatory. Values below are for Non-Dot Specimens only.

All values in CAD as of February 2026. For the complete denomination price guide across all years, see our Canadian Penny Value Guide.

Most Valuable 1936 Canadian Penny Varieties

Trophy Level: The 1936 "Dot" Cent — Canada's Rarest Coin

The 1936 Dot Cent is widely regarded as the Holy Grail of Canadian numismatics. Its existence is a direct consequence of the abdication of King Edward VIII in December 1936. Following the death of George V in January 1936, the Royal Mint prepared new tooling for Edward VIII — but his abdication rendered that tooling useless before mass production could begin. To bridge the gap until George VI dies were ready, the Ottawa Mint continued striking coins on 1936 George V dies into early 1937, adding a tiny dot punched below the date "1936" on the reverse to distinguish these emergency strikings from the actual 1936 production run.

The 1936 Canadian Dot Cent: the tiny raised dot appears centered directly below the date "1936" on the reverse, above the rim denticles. The dot is raised metal — not a pit, flat stain, or carbon spot. (Illustration — educational reference only; the actual coin is of extreme rarity)

While 1936 Dot Dimes and Quarters were released into circulation and can still occasionally be found in low grades, the Dot cents were apparently never officially released. George VI dies arrived before they were needed, and the vast majority of the emergency Dot cent production was melted. Only a minuscule number survived — believed to have been retained by Mint officials or preserved in Specimen sets. Known examples trace back to the John Jay Pittman collection.

Clarification: The "Bar" Variety on the 1936 Cent

Collectors frequently inquire about a "1936 Bar Penny." A critical distinction must be made: the Bar variety in Canadian numismatics refers almost exclusively to the 1936 10-Cent (Dime) and 25-Cent (Quarter), where a die crack bridges the ribbon bow on the reverse wreath, creating a distinctive bar. There is no widely recognized Bar variety for the 1936 1-cent piece listed in standard reference catalogues (Charlton, Trends) that commands a standalone premium comparable to the dime or quarter Bar. Because 1936 cent dies were pushed to exhaustion during a high-mintage run, many examples exhibit die cracks, die clashes, and tool marks — sellers sometimes incorrectly label these as a "Bar penny." These are curiosities, not catalogue varieties, and should be treated accordingly.

Other Findable Varieties

Sources: Canadian 1 Cent Coin Major Varieties — Saskatoon Coin Club; Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins.

1936 Canadian Penny Identification Guide

Use this step-by-step checklist to confirm exactly what you have before assigning value. The 1936 cent's relatively high numismatic ceiling — and the existence of the six-figure Dot variety — make accurate identification especially important.

1936 Canadian 1-cent: obverse (left) showing King George V's crowned, robed bust facing left with the legend GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP:, and reverse (right) showing the Two Maple Leaves design by Fred Lewis with the date 1936 and denomination ONE CENT.

Step 1 — Monarch Check (Obverse)

Confirm the portrait is King George V: a robed bust facing left, wearing the Imperial Crown. The obverse legend reads GEORGIVS V DEI GRA: REX ET IND: IMP: This is the MacKennal portrait, the last time it appeared on Canadian circulation coinage. If the portrait shows an unrobed head of a younger-looking king without the elaborate robe and crown, you have a George VI coin (1937 or later), which is extremely common. If the portrait depicts Edward VII, the coin dates to 1902–1910.

Step 2 — Reverse Design Check

Confirm the reverse shows the Two Maple Leaves design by Fred Lewis: two maple leaves on a single stem, with the denomination ONE CENT and the date 1936. This is distinct from the 1937 Kruger-Gray maple twig reverse, which features a radically different artistic style. The date "1936" must be clearly legible at the bottom of the reverse field.

Step 3 — Edge Check

The edge must be plain (smooth). A reeded (grooved) edge indicates a higher denomination — dimes, quarters, and half-dollars of this era are reeded. A plain edge confirms the 1-cent denomination.

Step 4 — Magnet Test (Composition Verification)

Apply a standard magnet to the coin. A genuine 1936 cent is non-magnetic (bronze alloy: 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc). If the coin is attracted to the magnet, treat it as a counterfeit. No genuine 1936 Canadian cents are magnetic.

Step 5 — Weight Verification

Weigh on a precision scale. Standard weight: 3.24 grams (±0.1 g). Significant underweight (below ~3.1 g) suggests a counterfeit or planchet issue. For a suspected Dot cent, weight verification is an essential pre-authentication step before submitting to a grading service.

Step 6 — Mint Mark Check

No mint marks appear on any 1936 Canadian cent. Ottawa was the sole Royal Canadian Mint production facility in 1936 — no Winnipeg "W" mark exists for this year, and no branch mint marks were used. This is standard for Canadian circulation coins of this era. If a coin shows any stamped mark claiming a mint of origin, treat it with suspicion.

Step 7 — Finish Identification (Critical Step)

Finish comparison: Business Strike (left) showing typical cartwheel lustre with normal contact marks, versus 1936 Specimen strike (right) displaying hard mirror-like fields and sharply squared rims. Specimen status requires professional authentication — never assign it to a raw coin. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

• Business Strike (MS): Cartwheel lustre visible when the coin is tilted under a direct light source; normal bag marks from handling expected even on uncirculated examples. This is the standard finish for circulation production.
• Specimen (SP): Hard, semi-mirror to mirror-like fields; devices appear to stand in higher relief; most diagnostically, the rims are distinctly sharply squared rather than rounded. In 1936, Specimens were not sold in public collector sets — they were produced in tiny quantities for presentation. Certification by ICCS or PCGS is mandatory before attributing Specimen status and value.
• "Proof-Like" Appearance (PL Strike): In 1936, Proof-Like was not a formal Mint product category. A business strike from fresh dies may produce mirror-like reflectivity (sometimes called a "Semi-Specimen" or "PL strike"), but lacks the Specimen's characteristic squared rim geometry. Do not assign Specimen pricing to a raw coin on the basis of mirror-like fields alone.

Step 8 — The Dot Examination

Using a 10× or higher magnification loupe, examine the reverse in the area centered directly below the date "1936", between the bottom of the date numerals and the rim denticles. The Dot variety presents as a tiny, distinct, raised mound of metal. Genuine diagnostic features: the dot is raised (not sunk), round, and of uniform metal colour. Red flags for counterfeits or misidentification: a sunken pit or crater (punched forgery), a black or discoloured spot (carbon deposit), a flat stain, or an irregular shape. The statistical probability of encountering a genuine Dot cent is effectively zero — all known examples are in established numismatic hands. If you find a raised dot matching the diagnostic, do not clean the coin, contact ICCS, PCGS, or NGC immediately, and review the PCGS guide to the 1936 Dot Cent before proceeding.

1936 Canadian Penny Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide reflect market averages as of February 2026, synthesized from the following primary sources:

• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins — variety listings and base pricing trends
• Coins and Canada — 1 cent 1920–1936 pricing aggregates
• NGC Price Guide — Canada Cent KM 28 (1920–1936)
• NGC Price Guide — Canada Cent KM 28 (Dot variety)
• PCGS Population Report — Canada Coins
• PCGS Population Report — 1936 Specimen detail
• Heritage Auctions — 1936 Dot Cent NYINC realized price ($402,500 USD)
• Royal Canadian Mint — 1-cent historical data
• Numista — 1 Cent George V Canada technical specifications
• Saskatoon Coin Club — Canadian 1 Cent Coin Major Varieties

Market values represent typical realized prices; individual coins may trade above or below these figures based on eye appeal, certification service, and prevailing market conditions. This guide covers standard (non-error) issues only. The 1936 Dot Cent is included as a documented non-error variety explicitly categorized as such in the source material. Major mint errors (off-center strikes, brockages, clips) are out of scope.