1941 Canadian 10-Cent (Dime) Value Guide

The 1941 Canadian dime is a wartime silver coin struck exclusively at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. With an official mintage of 8,716,386 pieces — roughly half the 1940 output — it occupies a relative production low in the George VI series, creating genuine condition rarity in the higher grades. King George VI's uncrowned portrait by T.H. Paget appears on the obverse; Emanuel Hahn's iconic Bluenose schooner graces the reverse. Unlike the nickel denomination, which was reformulated to tombac to conserve strategic metals for the war effort, the 10-cent piece retained its 80% silver standard throughout the conflict. That silver content gives every 1941 dime a real-metal price floor far above its 10-cent face value. For values across all George VI and other Canadian dime issues, see our Canadian Dime Value Guide.

Note: Mint errors such as broadstrikes, clips, and off-metal strikes exist for 1941 but are outside the scope of this standard value guide.

Obverse (King George VI by T.H. Paget) and reverse (Bluenose schooner by Emanuel Hahn) of the 1941 Canadian 10-cent piece. The legend ET IND:IMP: identifies this as a pre-1948 striking.

1941 Canadian Dime Composition & Melt Value

The 1941 dime's 80% silver content gives every example a hard melt floor well above face value. Weight verification (target: 2.33g) is the fastest counterfeit check.

Alloy Breakdown

The 1941 10-cent piece was struck on a coin-silver planchet of 80.0% Silver (Ag) and 20.0% Copper (Cu). This alloy — standard for Canadian dimes of the era — is harder and more durable than pure silver, allowing coins to survive decades of hand-to-hand exchange while retaining their characteristic white lustre. Pure silver is too soft for circulation coinage; the 20% copper addition provides the necessary hardness without significantly compromising the coin's precious metal value. Crucially, unlike the 5-cent nickel denomination (which moved to tombac brass during the war to conserve strategic metals for armor plating), the 10-cent piece was never reformulated during World War II, making the 1941 dime a "purist's" issue in wartime Canadian numismatics.

Key Physical Specifications

• Total weight: 2.33 grams (official specification approximately 2.3328 g, or ~36 grains)
• Actual Silver Weight (ASW): 0.0600 troy ounces
• Diameter: 18.03 mm
• Specific gravity: approximately 10.1 (useful for non-destructive authenticity testing)

Melt Value (as of February 9, 2026)

Using an aggregated silver spot price of approximately $3.57 CAD per gram ($111.02 CAD per troy ounce) as of February 9, 2026, the melt value calculation proceeds as follows:

• Silver extraction: 2.33 g × 80% = 1.864 g pure silver
• Melt value: 1.864 g × $3.57 CAD/g = $6.65 CAD

This melt value functions as a hard price floor for the 1941 dime. In grades of G-4 through VF-20, the coin is primarily a bullion asset — the catalogue numismatic value in those grades is often matched or exceeded by the silver content. Any 1941 dime offered below $6.65 is being sold at a loss relative to its metal. Bullion dealers typically pay 90–95% of calculated melt for worn examples. In grades of EF-40 and above, collector value decisively overtakes melt value.

Magnet Test & Weight Verification

The 80% silver composition means the 1941 dime is non-magnetic. Apply a rare-earth magnet to the coin: it should slide off or be gently repelled. A coin that snaps firmly to the magnet is a steel counterfeit or wrong-planchet coin. The target weight of 2.33 grams is the single most reliable counterfeit metric: a coin in G-4 or better condition should not weigh less than 2.25 grams or more than 2.40 grams. Significant deviation from this range — for example, 2.0 grams or 2.5 grams — requires immediate investigation. The coin's specific gravity of approximately 10.1 can also be tested using non-destructive water-displacement methods as a secondary check for suspected counterfeits.

1941 Canadian Dime Value Chart by Grade

The 1941 dime was produced exclusively as a business strike for general circulation. The Royal Canadian Mint suspended commercial collector set sales in 1941 to focus production capacity on the war effort — no Proof-Like sets or Specimen sets were offered to the public. All values below are for problem-free examples: coins that have not been cleaned, polished, bent, or corroded. Coins showing evidence of cleaning or other alterations receive a "Details" designation from professional grading services and typically trade at a significant discount, often 50% below listed values.

1941 Canadian 10 Cents — Business Strike (Standard Circulation)

G-4 and VG-8 values floored by silver melt (~$6.65 CAD). MS-64 sources: Calgary Coin fixed-price retail list ($190) and Canadian Coin News market trends ($225); table uses the stronger $225 figure to reflect the premium for certified examples. MS-65 estimated from auction realizations for comparable dates (1940, 1942); see the Trophy section in Notable Variants for MS-66 and MS-67 data. Values in CAD, February 2026.

Grade spectrum for the 1941 Canadian dime: heavily worn G-4 (bullion tier) vs. lightly circulated VF-20 vs. high-grade uncirculated MS-64+. The condition cliff between MS-63 ($100) and MS-65 ($450+) is steep and financially significant. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Market Context by Grade Tier

Bullion tier (G-4 to VF-20): In this range the coin is primarily a silver bullion asset. Advanced collectors generally bypass this tier; liquidity is extremely high because any bullion dealer will purchase worn examples. There is a slight wartime historical premium that occasionally pushes retail prices modestly above the spot-derived melt calculation, but the silver content remains the primary price driver.

Collector tier (EF-40 to AU-50): This is the entry point for serious budget-conscious numismatists. An EF-40 example shows full design detail on the Bluenose and clear hair separation on the King's portrait, but lacks the original lustre of a mint-state coin. A quality AU-50 coin, retaining 50–75% of its original cartwheel lustre, is a desirable, affordable piece for a mid-level George VI set. The market is stable and driven by steady album-collector demand.

Investment tier (MS-60 to MS-63): Here the scarcity of the 1941 issue becomes financially apparent. MS-60 coins are technically uncirculated but often show significant bag marks and weak strikes — the value jump from MS-63 ($100) to MS-64 ($225) reflects not just grade but genuine eye appeal. The 1941 dime is known for soft strikes at the highest relief points: the mainsail lines of the Bluenose and the hair above the King's ear. A coin with a full, sharp strike commands a premium at any grade.

Gem tier (MS-64 to MS-65): A true Gem 1941 dime — blazing original lustre, pristine surfaces, and sharp strike — is a genuine rarity. The vast majority of the 8.7 million pieces struck entered circulation immediately and remained there. The population of certified MS-65 examples is low enough that prices become volatile, often determined by specific eye appeal factors such as rainbow toning versus blast white surfaces.

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 1941 Canadian Dime Varieties

The 1941 10-cent series is defined by one primary catalogued die variety — the Re-engraved Date — plus condition rarities at the very top of the grading scale and a near-unique archival Specimen striking. The Re-engraved Date is listed in the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins and recognized by major grading services, making it one of the most rewarding cherrypick opportunities in the entire George VI dime run.

A. Trophy-Level Examples

B. Findable Varieties: The Re-engraved Date

The Re-engraved Date is the most significant cherrypickable variety on the 1941 dime, and the one most likely to reward a patient, well-equipped collector searching dealer bins. During die production, the date was re-entered into the working die to strengthen it; when the punch was not perfectly aligned with the original impression, a secondary image was created inside the primary digit strokes.

The Re-engraved Date diagnostic: use a 10x loupe and look inside the "1941" digits for a crisp, raised "shelf" or secondary outline — especially visible on the 1, 9, and 4. This is a sharp, stepped doubling, not a blurry smear. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

Machine Doubling (MD) vs. True Re-engraved Date: MD creates a flat, shelf-like smear on one side of a digit and adds zero value — it is considered a form of damage. The Re-engraved Date shows a crisp, rounded, raised secondary impression nesting cleanly inside the primary digit. (Illustration — not a photo of your exact coin)

On Specimen (SP) Coins: A Critical Warning

True 1941 Specimen coins are archival rarities — almost certainly struck for internal quality control or official presentation, not for commercial sale. They feature razor-sharp detail, distinctly squared rims, and a matte or satin finish that is texturally different from any business strike, polished or otherwise. The Charlton Standard Catalogue may list Specimen pricing for the George VI era, but actual market transactions for a 1941 SP dime are virtually non-existent; they appear in institutional or dynasty collections (such as the Norweb and Belzberg collections) and surface at major auctions once or twice in a generation. Any raw coin sold online as a "1941 Specimen" is almost certainly a polished business strike (a damaged coin worth melt value) or a coin with unusual die polish — not a genuine Specimen. If you believe you have a genuine Specimen, do not handle it further: submit it directly to PCGS or ICCS for authentication before drawing any conclusions about value.

1941 Canadian Dime Identification Guide

Use this 30-second checklist to confirm you have a genuine 1941 Canadian 10-cent piece, determine its composition and finish, and screen for the Re-engraved Date variety.

30-Second Field Checklist

1. Monarch Check: The obverse should show an uncrowned bust of King George VI facing left, designed by Thomas Humphrey Paget. The full legend reads GEORGIVS VI D:G:REX ET IND:IMP: The inclusion of ET IND:IMP: (Indiae Imperator — Emperor of India) is a definitive pre-1948 identifier; this title was removed from Canadian coinage in 1948 following Indian independence. Any coin lacking this legend element is not a standard 1937–1947 George VI dime.
2. Reverse Check: The reverse must show the Bluenose schooner sailing to the right, designed by Emanuel Hahn, with 10 CENTS below and CANADA above. This design was introduced in 1937 and used throughout the George VI era. Verify the lines of the sails are visible — heavily worn fakes or wrong-denomination coins may show an indistinct design.
3. Date Check: Confirm 1941 appears on the obverse. While examining the date, proceed directly to the variety check (Step 8) while you have magnification in hand.
4. Edge Check: Run your thumbnail lightly along the coin's edge — it must be reeded (grooved). A smooth or plain edge on a coin of this size indicates a different denomination, a different country, or a counterfeit.
5. Magnet Test (Composition Verification): Apply a rare-earth magnet to the coin. A genuine 1941 Canadian dime is 80% silver and entirely non-magnetic — the magnet should slide away or be gently repelled. A coin that snaps firmly to the magnet is a steel-core counterfeit or a wrong-planchet minting error.

   

   Magnet test: hold a rare-earth magnet near the coin. A genuine 1941 dime (80% silver) is non-magnetic and will repel or slide away from the magnet. Firm snap attraction = potential steel counterfeit or wrong-planchet coin.

6. Weight Verification: Place the coin on a digital scale accurate to 0.01g. Target: 2.33 grams. Acceptable range for a circulated example: 2.25g–2.35g. A coin weighing below 2.20g or above 2.40g warrants further investigation for plating, wrong planchet, or outright counterfeiting.
7. No Documented Marks: The 1941 dime carries no mint mark of any kind. All examples were struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. There is no "W" (Winnipeg) variant, no privy mark, and no composition indicator for this year. This is standard for Canadian circulation coinage of the George VI era.
8. Finish Identification:
   • Business Strike (virtually all 1941 dimes): Look for the "cartwheel" lustre effect — when you tilt the coin slowly under a single point-source light, a bright wave of reflected light rotates outward like spokes on a wheel. This is original mint lustre. Bag marks (small nicks and abrasions from coin-on-coin contact during bagging and transport) are expected on uncirculated examples and do not disqualify a coin from mint-state status.
   • True Specimen (SP) — Extreme Rarity: Features razor-sharp strike with every detail fully defined, distinctly squared and wire-sharp rims, and a texturally distinctive matte, satin, or deeply frosted finish. The surface quality will look fundamentally different from any business strike — not simply shinier, but texturally unlike anything produced for circulation. If a coin appears to match this description, treat it as a potential trophy discovery and do not handle it further before professional evaluation.
9. Variety Check — The Re-engraved Date Test: Under a 10x loupe (or stronger), examine the digits of "1941" closely. Look for a crisp, raised secondary outline — a "shelf" or stepped impression — inside the main strokes of the 1, 9, and 4. This doubling must be rounded and raised; if the doubling is flat and pushed to one side of the digit, that is Machine Doubling, which carries zero premium. A confirmed Re-engraved Date jumps from approximately $9 (VF-20 standard) to $38 (VF-20 variety) and from approximately $40 (MS-60 standard) to $400 (MS-60 variety).

Toning: Good, Bad, and Artificial

Silver reacts with atmospheric sulfur compounds over decades to form toning (patina). Original toning — russet, gold, or blue-violet iridescence that rests on top of intact cartwheel lustre — is generally valued positively by collectors and can push a coin to a higher certified grade or attract a bidding premium at auction. Problem toning — heavy black corrosion, milky white patches (often from PVC-contaminated storage materials), or spotty deterioration — subtracts value and may result in a "Details" grade. Artificial toning, created with chemicals to simulate age, often appears neon-bright or crayon-like and is treated as a form of alteration by grading services, resulting in a "Details — Artificial Toning" designation.

1941 Canadian Dime Value FAQs

Methodology & Sources

Values in this guide reflect typical retail market prices as of February 2026 in Canadian Dollars (CAD), synthesized from the following primary sources:

• Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins (75th Edition / Vol. 1): Primary reference for variety listings (Re-engraved Date, Doubled Die Reverse), mintage data, and George VI series context.
• Calgary Coin — Canadian 10-Cent Fixed-Price Lists: Retail baseline for MS-60 through MS-64 pricing.
• Coin World — Canadian Values Reference: Circulated and collector-grade pricing trends (EF-40 to AU-50); MS-66 auction realization records.
• Canadian Coin News — Market Trends: MS-64 pricing trend data ($225 CAD reference figure).
• PCGS CoinFacts & Auction Price Archive: High-grade population context and trophy-level auction realization records.
• NGC World Coin Price Guide — Canada 10 Cents KM 34 (1937–1947): Cross-reference for George VI dime grade values across the series.
• Numista — Canada 10 Cents George VI (ET IND:IMP:): Technical specifications, series context, and circulated-grade pricing cross-reference.
• Royal Canadian Mint (mint.ca) — 10 Cents: Confirmation of official weight and composition specifications.
• Canada Gold — Silver Spot Price (CAD): Aggregated silver spot price data used for melt value calculation ($3.57 CAD/g as of February 9, 2026).
• Heritage Auctions and Geoffrey Bell Auctions archives: Trophy-level and Specimen auction context for George VI dimes and comparable dates.

Prices represent typical market values and may vary based on individual coin eye appeal, toning quality, strike sharpness, and prevailing silver spot prices. This guide covers standard (non-error) 1941 dimes only. Values are presented for informational purposes and do not constitute an offer to buy or sell.