The Canadian 10 Cent Coin - The Canadian Dime

In 1937 the updated Canadian dime had Emanual Hahn's image of a Bluenose schooner ship in full sail pressed into one of the Canadian 10 cent coin sides. The reigning British monarchy continued to be featured on the face of the Canadian ten cent coin. Other than for a few celebratory occassions it is this image of the Bluenose schooner which appears on each Canadian ten cent piece minted at the Royal Canadian Mint since 1937.

During Canada's 1967 Centennial year it is the image of a fish (mackerel) which was pressed onto the special edition Canadian Centennial dime.

Again in 2001 the dime received a special design in honor of the "International Year Of The Volunteer". The Canadian 10 cent coins minted in 2001 displayed an image in honor of the many Volunteers who contribute their time and lives to making the world a better place to live in.

From 1908 till 1919 the Canadian dime was made from a blend of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. From 1920 to 1967 the Canadian dime was made from a metal blend of eighty percent silver and twenty percent copper.

It is the rising cost of precious metals which initiates the change of metal content in Canadian coins made after the Canadian Centennial year of 1967. Silver was just too expensive. From 1967 onward the Canadian dime would no longer be comprised of silver but from instead it would be comprised largely of nickel or steel.

From 1968 to the year 2000 the dime would contain 99.9 percent nickel, and after that date it would contain 92 percent steel and a remaining metal blend of copper and nickel.

The English Royalty which are displayed on the Canadian dime are as follows:
1858 to 1901 dimes displayed her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria
1902 and 1910 - Edward Vll
1911 to 1936 - George V
1937 to 1952 - George V1
1953 to present day - Queen Elizabeth.

There are some facts about the Canadian dime that many people may not be aware of. The Canadian ten cent coin was not always Canada's tiniest coin.

The first Canadian nickels that were actually much smaller in weight and dimension than the Canadian 10 cent coin. It wasn't until 1922, when Canadian Nickels were increased to their current size that the tiny dime was able to place its current claim as being Canada's smallest coin.

From 1910 to 1967 the Canadian dime weighed in at 2.33 grams and measuring 18.034 mm. In 1968 when the Canadian 10 cent coin had its metal composition changed so also did its size, the Canadian dime actually shrank, and today weighs in at 1.75 grams and measures a mere 18.3 mm.

1908, 1915, 1933, 1934, 1935, and 1948 are dates to watch for on the Canadian 10 cent coins in your change. The number of Canadian dimes minted in those years was much lower than on other years.

1908 - 776,666 dimes minted.
1915 - 688,057 dimes minted.
1933 - 672,368 dimes minted.
1934 - 409,067 dimes minted.
1935 - 384,056 dimes minted.
1948 - 422,741 dimes minted.

There were generally over one million Canadian dimes minted each year. During the above years there were less than one million Canadian 10 cent coins minted at the Royal Canadian Mint.

One little known fact about the canadian dime is that no Canadian dimes were minted in 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1927, so if you were looking for one of those to complete your coin collection, don't expect to find one.

The Canadian Two Dollar Coin The Canadian Twonie Toonie
Canada's first two dollar coin came into circulation on February 19, 1996. Introduced as an economical solution to replace Canada's paper two dollar bills th...

The Canadian 5 Cent Coin - The Canadian Nickel
Minted in 1858 the first Canadian 5 cent coins were made in England and then shipped to Canada. An interesting fact about the Canadian nickel is these first ...

The Canadian One Cent Coin - The Canadian Penny
It is known as a penny, a copper, and a one cent coin. The first Canadian pennies featured England's reigning Queen Victoria on one side, and the image of tw...

The Canadian 25 Cent Coin - The Canadian Quarter
The Canadian 25 cent coin is famous for making history in 2004 when its unique design gave the Canadian quarter the distinction of being the World's firs...