Canadian "Fish Scale" Nickels: The Tiny Silver Coins Collectors Love
Picture a Canadian nickel. Now shrink it way down and make it out of silver. Congrats, you're holding a "fish scale," one of the coolest little coins Canada ever made.
Before 1922, Canada's 5-cent piece was a tiny silver coin. It was so small and thin that people nicknamed it the "fish scale." Today these little guys are some of the most fun coins to collect in Canadian history. Here's why.
Why "fish scale"?
It comes down to size. A silver 5-cent piece is only 15.5 mm across and weighs about 1.17 grams. That's smaller than a modern dime and way thinner. Drop one on the floor and good luck finding it. They were so small and thin that people started calling them fish scales, and the name stuck.
The specs
Canada made silver 5-cent coins from 1858 to 1921, in two silver mixes:
| Years | Silver | Weight | Silver per coin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1858–1919 | 92.5% (sterling) | ~1.16–1.17 g | ~0.0345 troy oz |
| 1920–1921 | 80% | 1.17 g | ~0.0301 troy oz |
In 1922, Canada switched the 5-cent coin to nickel and made it much bigger, which is basically the nickel we know today. That was the end of the fish scale era.
The monarchs on the front
Fish scales span three monarchs:
- Queen Victoria (1858–1901)
- King Edward VII (1902–1910)
- King George V (1911–1921)
On the back, you'll find the denomination and date inside a wreath under a crown. It's a simple, classic design that looks great even when the coin is well worn.
The 1911 "Godless" coins
Here's a fun bit of trivia. In 1911, the Mint changed the King's portrait side and dropped the Latin words "DEI GRA" ("by the grace of God"). People were not happy. The public backlash was big enough that the words came back in 1912. Collectors still call the 1911 coins "Godless" coins today.
The legend: the 1921 fish scale
If you ever meet a hardcore Canadian coin collector, bring up the 1921 5-cent coin and watch their eyes light up.
Canada struck 2,582,495 silver 5-cent coins dated 1921, but when the switch to nickel came in 1922, almost all of them were melted down at the Mint. Only about 400 are believed to be left today. That's why the 1921 is called "the Prince of Canadian Coins."
Will you find one in a pocket-change pile? Almost certainly not. But that's the magic of the hobby. Somebody, somewhere, will.
Dates to look for
Besides the legendary 1921, a few other dates have lower mintages:
- 1908: 1,197,780 made
- 1915: 1,172,258 made
- 1909: 1,890,865 made
On the other end, 1920 had over 10 million made, so it's one of the easiest to find.
Why collectors love fish scales
- They're a steal of an entry point. You can start collecting real old Canadian silver without spending big.
- They're over 100 years old. Every one of them has passed through more than a century of Canadian history.
- The kings. Edward VII and George V coins are a direct line to the early 1900s, and not many people collect them. That makes them a sweet niche.
- The chase. Dates, monarchs and that mythical 1921. There's always something to hunt for.
How to take care of them
Fish scales are tiny and thin, so treat them nicely:
- Don't clean them. Seriously. Cleaning scratches the surface and kills collector value. The natural toning is part of the charm.
- Hold them by the edges. Oils from your fingers can mark the surface.
- Store them in PVC-free flips or capsules. Some cheap soft plastic flips contain PVC, which can leave a green gunk on coins over time.
Start your fish scale collection
Our Canadian Silver 5¢ "Fish Scale" Bundle has ten genuine silver fish scales dated 1908–1921, and they come in a velvet pouch. It's a great starter set. Sort them by date and by king, and you've got yourself a mini history lesson.
FAQ
Why are old Canadian 5-cent coins called fish scales?
They're tiny and thin, about 15.5 mm across and 1.17 grams, so collectors nicknamed them "fish scales."
Are old Canadian nickels silver?
Yes, if they're dated 1921 or earlier. From 1922 on, 5-cent coins were made of nickel.
How much silver is in a fish scale?
About 0.0345 troy oz for the sterling coins (1858–1919) and about 0.0301 troy oz for the 80% coins (1920–1921).
Why is the 1921 5-cent coin so rare?
Canada struck 2,582,495 of them, but almost all were melted at the Mint when Canada switched to the larger nickel coin in 1922. Only about 400 are believed to survive.
What is a "Godless" 1911 coin?
In 1911, the Latin words meaning "by the grace of God" were dropped from Canadian coins. After public backlash, they came back in 1912.
Tiny coins, big history. Browse all our Canadian silver coin bundles.