1880H Canadian 5 Cents — ICCS MS-64 | Obverse 3 | Queen Victoria | Heaton Mint | Near-Gem Mint State

1880H Canadian Five Cents — ICCS Certified MS-64 | Near-Gem Mint State | Obverse 3 | Queen Victoria | Heaton Mint

An exceptional near-gem example of the 1880H Canadian Five Cent piece, independently certified by the International Coin Certification Service (ICCS) and graded MS-64 (Near-Gem Mint State) with the variety comment Obverse 3. The coin retains original mint lustre with attractive original toning and a sharply struck design throughout. The Queen Victoria “Young Head” portrait is crisp and well-defined, and the reverse wreath and denomination are boldly struck. A premium, problem-free example of this early Confederation-era Heaton Mint issue with a documented die variety.

Certification Details

• Country: Canada
• Year: 1880H
• Denomination: 5 Cents
• Grade: MS-64 (Near-Gem Mint State)
• Comments: Obverse 3
• Certification No.: XAV 913
• Certifying Body: ICCS (International Coin Certification Service)

Coin Specifications

• Composition: 92.5% Silver, 7.5% Copper
• Diameter: 15.49 mm
• Weight: 1.17 g
• Edge: Reeded
• Obverse Designer: Leonard Charles Wyon (Queen Victoria “Young Head” effigy)
• Reverse Designer: L.C. Wyon (Maple wreath design)
• Mint: Heaton Mint, Birmingham, England (“H” mintmark)

The Obverse 3 Variety

This example carries the ICCS-noted variety comment Obverse 3, identifying a specific obverse die used in the production of the 1880H five-cent piece. Multiple obverse dies were employed during the Victorian Canadian five-cent series, and the Obverse 3 designation distinguishes this coin’s die characteristics — including subtle differences in the portrait and legend positioning — from other obverse types used in the same year. The variety is documented directly on the ICCS certification label, providing independent authentication and adding meaningful collector interest.

Design & Historical Significance

The obverse features the graceful right-facing “Young Head” portrait of Queen Victoria by Leonard Charles Wyon, inscribed VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA CANADA. The reverse displays the denomination 5 CENTS within a delicate maple leaf and rose wreath surmounted by the Imperial Crown, with the date 1880 at the bottom.

The “H” mintmark denotes production at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, England. The 1880H five-cent piece was struck just 13 years after Confederation, making it a genuine artifact of early Canadian history. Near-gem MS-64 examples of early Heaton Mint five-cent pieces are genuinely scarce — the vast majority of surviving pieces have seen significant circulation or environmental damage over nearly 150 years — and an ICCS-certified MS-64 with a documented variety is an outstanding find.

Why This Coin Belongs in Your Collection

Imagine holding a tiny silver five-cent piece struck in Birmingham in 1880 — just 13 years after Canada became a nation — preserved in near-gem MS-64 condition with original lustre, attractive toning, and a documented Obverse 3 die variety. This coin combines early Confederation historical significance, Heaton Mint collector appeal, and premium mint state quality in a single problem-free example. An outstanding addition to any collection of Victorian Canadian silver or a date set of the five-cent series.

Encapsulated in an original ICCS sealed holder. Tampering with the holder invalidates the certification opinion. Have holder replaced if inner package/seal is not intact.

The ICCS-certified coin shown is the exact coin you will receive. Guaranteed authentic.