1948 Canadian 5 Cent — ICCS MS-65 | Key Date | George VI

1948 Canadian Five Cent — ICCS Certified MS-65 | Gem Uncirculated | Key Date

A superb gem-quality example of the 1948 Canadian Five Cent piece — one of the most coveted key dates in the entire Canadian nickel series — independently certified by the International Coin Certification Service (ICCS) and graded MS-65 (Gem Mint State). The coin displays full, vibrant mint lustre, a sharp and well-centred strike, and only the most minimal contact marks under magnification, placing it firmly among the finest survivors of this scarce issue.

Certification Details

• Country: Canada
• Year: 1948
• Denomination: 5 Cents
• Grade: MS-65 (Gem Mint State)
• Comments: None
• Certification No.: XXA 058
• Certifying Body: ICCS (International Coin Certification Service)

Coin Specifications

• Composition: 99.9% Nickel
• Shape: 12-sided (dodecagonal)
• Diameter: 21.2 mm
• Weight: 4.54 g
• Edge: Plain
• Obverse Designer: T.H. Paget (George VI effigy)
• Reverse Designer: Emanuel Hahn (Beaver design)
• Mint: Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa

Design & Historical Significance

The obverse features the right-facing portrait of King George VI by T.H. Paget, inscribed GEORGIVS VI D:G: REX ET IND:IMP. The reverse showcases the beloved Beaver design by Emanuel Hahn — a proud Canadian beaver perched on a log surrounded by water, with "5 CENTS" above and "CANADA 1948" below — marking the return of this iconic design after the wartime Victory nickel years of 1943–1945.

The 1948 Canadian five cent is a recognized key date in the series, with a notably low mintage of just 1,810,789 pieces — the lowest of any George VI nickel issue. High-grade gem examples are genuinely rare in today’s market, as the majority of surviving specimens exhibit significant contact marks or softness of strike typical of lower Mint State grades.

Why This Coin Belongs in Your Collection

Imagine holding one of the scarcest Canadian nickels of the 20th century in gem uncirculated condition — its bold beaver reverse razor-sharp, its nickel surfaces still carrying the full brilliance of the Ottawa Mint. At MS-65, this 1948 five cent represents an exceptional opportunity for the serious date-set collector or the investor seeking a certified Canadian key date with genuine long-term numismatic significance.

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.