Lot #323: Canada 2003 Five-Cent Coin (“P” & New Effigy)

Canada 2003 Five-Cent Coin (“P” & New Effigy) This is a 2003 Canada Five-Cent (“P” & New Effigy) coin. The year 2003 is famous among Canadian coin collectors because it represents a double transition year: the Mint permanently switched coin metal compositions while also celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee with a brand-new royal portrait. Meaning of the "P" Composition Mark The letter "P" stands for Plated. It is a tiny composition mark stamped directly below the Queen's portrait on the front (obverse) side of the coin. Why it changed: Up until this era, Canadian nickels were made primarily from solid nickel or cupronickel. To cut production costs, the Royal Canadian Mint switched to Multi-Ply Plated Steel (a steel core plated with layers of copper and nickel). The Varieties: In 2003, the Mint produced both "No P" (old cupronickel composition) and "P" (new plated steel composition) versions. You can easily tell them apart by testing if the coin sticks to a refrigerator magnet. Meaning of "New Effigy" vs. "Old Effigy" An effigy is the portrait or likeness of the monarch on the front of a coin. In 2003, the Mint transitioned between two distinct portraits of Queen Elizabeth II mid-year: Old Effigy (Crowned / Dora de Pédery-Hunt Design): This portrait shows the Queen wearing the George IV State Diadem (crown). This design had been used on Canadian currency since 1990.New Effigy (Uncrowned / Susanna Blunt Design): Introduced late in 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen's coronation (Golden Jubilee). This modern portrait shows a mature Queen without a crown. This design was used all the way until her passing. All information provided herein is considered accurate. It is the buyer's responsibility to verify its accurateness. As shown and as is. The pictures are part of the description. Pickup category timeslot {A}