Expert: Ronald Fern - 1/26/2010

Question
Going through an elderly relatives stuff, I stumbled across this centennial penny from Canada. It's in some sort of wrapping with "proof" stamped on it. It has Queen Elizabeth II on the front and a dove on the back. I know that I've seen that they're worth, well......a penny but I didn't know if the proof stamping had any significance???? It looks brand new!!! Do I have something here or is it just another Canadian penny??? Thanks.

Answer
Hi Tony:

Thanks for your question.

It is hard to give you a precise answer without a photo or actually examining the coin. It sounds like you may have a "Proof-Like" cent from 1967.

The Canadian proof-like, or PL, sets are superior quality strikings of the regular uncirculated coins. In many cases, the proof-like sets are much better quality than the regular circulating coins. They usually contain the regular issues for the year, even when the regular issue designs were not issued, such as when a commemorative design was used on the smaller denominations. (Canada has more commemorative quarters issued for circulation than commemorative dollars, for example. The commemorative quarters were usually not issued in the proof-like sets.)

They have been packaged in several different varieties, but are usually found in a flat Pliofilm holder that keeps them looking nice and undamaged. They are widely collected for their quality, as an easy way to collect all the regular issues for a year, as a way of getting some scarce coins at a low price, and other reasons

The 1967 coins were commemoratives, celebrating the Confederation of Canada in 1867 from 4 Crown Colonies. The designs of Alex Colville were used, showing a rock dove on the 1 Cent, a rabbit on the 5 Cents, a mackerel on the 10 Cents, a bobcat on the 25 cents, a howling wolf on the 50 Cents, and a flying Canada Goose on the Dollar coin. The issue of these coins continued into 1968, even though the price of silver had risen to $50 per ounce.  That was the last of the regular circulating Silver coins.

The 1967 Centennial Commemorative had a mintage of 963,714. The value of your cent would depend on the condition. Your piece would likely have an value of 50 cents in MS-63 to $25 in MS-65 to an interested collector.

You may want to check eBay listings in the cent category under Canadian coins from time to time to see if coins like yours are listed and what they are going for.

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.