Canadian Ten-Cent Coin Encyclopedia: History, Types, Specifications and Mintages

Canadian circulation coin · 1858–present

Denomination overview

The ten-cent denomination links the Province of Canada's 1858 decimal silver issue to Emanuel Hahn's 1937 Bluenose reverse. Sterling and 80% silver standards gave way to nickel in 1968 and plated steel in 2000, while selected commemorative reverses interrupted the regular schooner design.

Scope: 2 major types, 7 official technical standards, and 117 published annual rows from 1908 through 2024. Unpublished years, prices, survivor estimates, and unverified varieties are not inferred.

Move from denomination to major type

Crossed maple boughs define the pre-1937 family. The modern type shows Bluenose under sail; the 1967 mackerel, 2001 volunteer design, and 2017 Wings of Peace must be identified as special reverses rather than schooner varieties.

Major types — Crossed-maple-bough silver dime, Bluenose schooner family
Identification order — Crossed maple boughs define the pre-1937 family. The modern type shows Bluenose under sail; the 1967 mackerel, 2001 volunteer design, and 2017 Wings of Peace must be identified as special reverses rather than schooner varieties.
Production evidence — Official 1908–2024 rows appear in an adaptive square-root chart and full annual table.

The history of Canadian Ten-Cent Coin

The Mint presents principal reverses, technical specifications, and annual mintages as separate evidence. This page preserves those boundaries rather than automatically assigning every denomination total to one special reverse.

Build first by the crossed-bough and Bluenose design families, then add silver, nickel, and plated-steel technical generations and separately labelled commemorative reverses.

1858 · Province of Canada dime — Crossed maple boughs appeared on the first decimal silver issue.
1908 · Ottawa table begins — The official Mint annual table begins.
1920 · 80% silver — The technical standard changed from sterling to 80% silver.
1937 · Bluenose — Emanuel Hahn's schooner reverse modernized the denomination.
1967 · Centennial mackerel — Alex Colville's mackerel replaced Bluenose for one year.
1968 · Nickel generation — Nickel replaced the silver circulation standard.
2000 · Plated steel — A lighter plated-steel standard entered circulation.
2001 · Volunteer reverse — A special reverse honoured the International Year of the Volunteer.
2017 · Wings of Peace — Amy Choi's Canada 150 design replaced the regular reverse.

Design generations and identification

Crossed Maple Boughs Ten Cents · 1858–1936 · Not established — Value within crossed maple boughs and crown. Crossed-maple-bough silver dime.
Bluenose Ten Cents · 1937–present · Emanuel Hahn — Schooner under sail, identified by the Mint as Bluenose. Bluenose schooner family.

Attribute with denomination, date, portrait, principal reverse, diameter, weight, thickness, shape, edge, and metal response together; colour or wear alone does not establish a new type.

Read long-run production on a square-root scale

The official table provides 117 annual rows from 1908 through 2024, summing to 10,714,584,568 pieces.

The square-root scale compresses extreme highs while keeping zero-production years visible; use the annual table for exact figures.

Design and technology turning points

These anchors support identification and planning; they are not price or rarity rankings.

Province of Canada dime — Crossed maple boughs appeared on the first decimal silver issue.
Ottawa table begins — The official Mint annual table begins.
80% silver — The technical standard changed from sterling to 80% silver.
Bluenose — Emanuel Hahn's schooner reverse modernized the denomination.
Centennial mackerel — Alex Colville's mackerel replaced Bluenose for one year.
Nickel generation — Nickel replaced the silver circulation standard.
Plated steel — A lighter plated-steel standard entered circulation.
Volunteer reverse — A special reverse honoured the International Year of the Volunteer.
Wings of Peace — Amy Choi's Canada 150 design replaced the regular reverse.

Type, special reverse, and variety are different levels

Confirm the major type first, then the special reverse or technical generation; create a variety only when an authoritative source defines and supports it.

Confirm denomination and principal design — Crossed maple boughs define the pre-1937 family. The modern type shows Bluenose under sail; the 1967 mackerel, 2001 volunteer design, and 2017 Wings of Peace must be identified as special reverses rather than schooner varieties.
Match the technical standard — Match the date to the official composition, weight, diameter, and thickness generation.
Preserve the evidence boundary — Do not infer a variety, error, price, or survivor count from an annual total, colour, or wear.

Mint annual production table

The table preserves each published figure from 1908 through 2024, including zero-production rows and any split label stated by the Mint.

Annual figures are denomination-level production records; special reverses cannot always be separated from a same-year regular design.

Year	Design context	Technical standard	Mintage
1908	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.32 g	776,666
1909	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.32 g	1,697,200
1910	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.32 g / 18.034 mm · 2.33 g	4,468,331
1911	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,737,584
1912	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,234,557
1913	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	3,613,937
1914	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,549,811
1915	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	688,057
1916	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	4,218,114
1917	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	5,011,988
1918	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	5,133,602
1919	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	7,877,722
1920	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	6,305,345
1921	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,469,562
1922	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	0
1923	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	0
1924	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	0
1925	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	0
1926	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	0
1927	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	0
1928	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,458,602
1929	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	3,253,888
1930	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	1,831,043
1931	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,067,421
1932	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	1,154,317
1933	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	672,368
1934	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	409,067
1935	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	384,056
1936	Crossed-maple-bough silver dime	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,460,871
1937	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	2,500,095
1938	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	4,197,323
1939	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	5,501,748
1940	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	16,526,470
1941	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	8,716,386
1942	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	10,214,011
1943	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	21,143,229
1944	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	9,383,582
1945	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	10,979,570
1946	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	6,300,066
1947	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	14,070,719
1948	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	422,741
1949	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	11,336,172
1950	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	17,823,075
1951	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	15,079,265
1952	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	10,474,455
1953	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	17,706,395
1954	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	4,493,150
1955	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	12,237,294
1956	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	16,732,844
1957	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	16,110,229
1958	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	10,621,236
1959	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	19,691,433
1960	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	45,446,835
1961	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	26,850,859
1962	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	41,864,335
1963	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	41,916,208
1964	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	49,518,549
1965	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	55,965,392
1966	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	34,330,199
1967	Centennial mackerel	18.034 mm · 2.33 g	62,998,215
1968	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	235,042,930
1969	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	55,833,929
1970	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	5,249,296
1971	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	41,106,968
1972	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	60,169,387
1973	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	167,715,435
1974	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	210,566,565
1975	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	207,680,000
1976	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	94,724,000
1977	Bluenose schooner family	18.034 mm · 2.07 g	128,056,000
1978	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	170,366,431
1979	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	236,910,479
1980	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	169,910,479
1981	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	123,912,900
1982	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	93,960,898
1983	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	111,501,710
1984	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	119,080,000
1985	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	142,800,000
1986	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	168,620,000
1987	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	147,309,000
1988	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	162,998,558
1989	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	198,693,414
1990	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	65,023,000
1991	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	50,397,000
1992	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	174,476,000
1993	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	135,569,000
1994	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	145,800,000
1995	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	123,875,000
1996	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	51,814,000
1997	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	43,126,000
1998	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	203,514,000
1999	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 2.07 g	258,462,000
2000	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	195,117,000
2001	International Year of the Volunteer	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	272,465,000
2002	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	252,563,000
2003	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	164,617,000
2004	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	213,025,000
2005	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	211,350,000
2006	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	331,647,000
2007	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	304,110,000
2008	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	467,495,000
2009	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	370,700,000
2010	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	252,500,000
2011	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	292,325,000
2012	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	334,675,000
2013	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	104,775,000
2014	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	153,450,000
2015	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	112,475,000
2016	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	439,925,000
2017	Canada 150 · Wings of Peace	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	20,000,000
2018	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	118,525,000
2019	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	159,775,000
2020	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	68,750,000
2021	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	704,000,000
2022	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	103,400,000
2023	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	3,055,000
2024	Bluenose schooner family	18.03 mm · 1.75 g	73,975,000

Composition, weight, and dimension generations

A transition year can contain overlapping or parallel standards; the page preserves the Mint's published date labels.

1908 – 1910 · Round

Composition: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
Weight: 2.32 g
Diameter: 18.034 mm
Thickness: Not stated

1910 – 1919 · Round

Composition: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
Weight: 2.33 g
Diameter: 18.034 mm
Thickness: Not stated

1920 – 1967 · Round

Composition: 80% silver, 20% copper
Weight: 2.33 g
Diameter: 18.034 mm
Thickness: Not stated

1968 – 1977 · Round

Composition: 99.9% nickel
Weight: 2.07 g
Diameter: 18.034 mm
Thickness: 1.16 mm

1978 · Round

Composition: 99.9% nickel
Weight: 2.07 g
Diameter: 18.03 mm
Thickness: 1.19 mm

1979 – 1999 · Round

Composition: 99.9% nickel
Weight: 2.07 g
Diameter: 18.03 mm
Thickness: 1.22 mm

2000 – present · Round

Composition: 92% steel, 5.5% copper, 2.5% nickel
Weight: 1.75 g
Diameter: 18.03 mm
Thickness: 1.22 mm

Collecting paths and checklist

Build first by the crossed-bough and Bluenose design families, then add silver, nickel, and plated-steel technical generations and separately labelled commemorative reverses.

Major-type set — Choose one clearly attributable representative of every major type.
Design generations — Add officially identified special reverses and design interruptions.
Technical generations — Expand by composition, dimensions, weight, shape, and security features.
Source-backed annual study — Study varieties, errors, grades, and markets only when issue-level evidence is sufficient.

Collector checklist

Do not clean the coin.
Compare date, portrait, reverse, edge, weight, and diameter together.
Record special reverses separately from the base type.
Annual mintage is not survival or rarity.
Have consequential attributions reviewed by an appropriate specialist.

Data scope

This page publishes reviewed denomination- and major-type-level evidence. Years not published by the Mint remain unknown, zero appears only when the source reports zero, and prices or survivor estimates are not inferred from production.

Sources

Mint evidence anchors designs, specifications, and annual rows; the listed government, museum, or research sources supplement historical and legal context.

10 centsRoyal Canadian Mint
Ten-cent design, designer, and composition chronology.
A History of the Canadian DollarBank of Canada
Decimal adoption, 1858 coinage, 1870 Dominion coinage, provincial issues, Newfoundland, and mint history.