1985 Canadian 5-Cent Nickel Coin (Beaver Motif)
Coin/Bullion · Royal Canadian Mint, the crown corporation responsible for the production of Canada's circulation and collector currency.
Pattern: Standard Circulation Series, Beaver Reverse (designed by G.E. Kruger Gray in 1937)
Type
Coin/Bullion
Maker
Royal Canadian Mint, the crown corporation responsible for the production of Canada's circulation and collector currency.
Material
Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel). Note: This item contains no actual silver despite its silver-colored appearance.
Dimensions
Diameter: 21.21 mm; Thickness: 1.76 mm; Weight: 4.54 grams.
Description
A standard Canadian five-cent piece featuring the iconic beaver reverse. The beaver, a symbol of Canada's early fur trade and industriousness, sits atop a log in water. The 1985 issue is notable for being part of the last years of the 100% cupronickel composition before the transition to plated steel.
Key Features
Reverse beaver design, 'KG' initials, 1985 date, 12-sided (v-shaped) appearance is gone (this is a round planchet), and cupro-nickel luster.
Material & Composition
Cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel). Note: This item contains no actual silver despite its silver-colored appearance.
Finish & Decoration
Specimen strike with a satin/lustrous circulation finish; features a relief of a beaver on a log, denticles along the rim, and two maple leaves.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Reverse contains: '5 CENTS', 'CANADA 1985', and the artist's initials 'K.G.'; Obverse (assumed) would feature the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Arnold Machin.
Construction Details
Machine-struck using high-pressure industrial dies at the Royal Canadian Mint; circular planchet with a smooth (plain) edge.
Functional Features
Legal tender currency for the Dominion of Canada with a face value of 0.05 CAD.
Handle & Grip Details
None; features a smooth, non-reeded edge typical of the Canadian nickel denomination.
Craftsmanship Details
Industrial minting; high-fidelity die work by Kruger Gray; precision stamping consistent with state-owned minting facilities.
Authentication Indicators
Clearly struck typography, correct weight for a cupro-nickel planchet, and official Royal Canadian Mint design motifs. No indicators of Counterfeit present.
Origin & Manufacturing
Ottawa or Winnipeg, Canada; Royal Canadian Mint.
Era & Period
Modern Canada, Late 20th Century (post-Elizabethan standard design era).
Age Estimate
Dated 1985 (39 years old as of current assessment).
Cultural Significance
The beaver was chosen for the coin to represent the national identity of Canada, reflecting the country's economic history and its natural wilderness.
Condition Notes
Very Good to Extremely Fine (VF-XF); shows moderate surface wear on the high points of the beaver's fur and the log, light circulation scratches (bag marks), and typical darkening of the nickel alloy.
Value Estimate
Face value ($0.05 CAD); numismatic value for a circulated specimen is typically $0.05 to $0.25 CAD unless in MS-65 or higher condition.
Care & Maintenance
Do not clean with abrasives or silver polish as this is not silver; keep in a dry environment to prevent nickel oxidation; handle by the edges to avoid finger oils.
Similar Pieces
1985 Canadian Nickel (Chrome-plated steel - note: steel was not used widely until later years); 1943 Tombac Nickels (different metal color); Pre-1922 Canadian Silver 5-Cent 'Fish Scales' (the actual silver predecessors).
Interesting Facts
The beaver design has been on the Canadian nickel since 1937, with only a few commemorative exceptions; 1985 saw a high mintage of over 126 million pieces.