1991 Canada Elizabeth II, 12 sided 1 Cent BU

About the 1991 Canada Elizabeth II, 12 sided 1 Cent BU

The 12 sided shape was adopted to make the small cent easier to distinguish by touch, particularly for the visually impaired. The obverse portrait, by Dora de Pédery-Hunt, shows the Queen wearing a diadem. It marked a notable milestone as the first royal effigy on Canadian coinage created by a Canadian artist. The reverse retains the enduring twig with 2 maple leaves designed by George Edward Kruger Gray, one of the most recognizable and longest serving designs in the nation's numismatic history. Struck in bronze composed of 98% copper, 1.75% tin and 0.25% zinc, the type was produced by the Royal Canadian Mint at Ottawa and Winnipeg. It belongs to the final era before the cent returned to a round form, which gives it a clear place in the evolution of the denomination. For collectors, the type is an essential component of any Elizabeth II series. It offers an accessible way to study the interplay of portrait, planchet shape and metal composition. Attentive specialists also examine strike quality, die varieties and the preservation of original copper colour, all of which add depth to building a complete and well matched set.