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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,764 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9865 Posts |
The discussions here of the twelve-sided cents got me thinking about the non-cents of 1978.
Due to the rising price of copper the mint announced in '77 that the '78 cent would be smaller than a dime and feature a 1 surrounded by 12 maple leaves,one for each province and territory.There was a large hue and cry from the public,the vending industry,and the TTC,whose tokens were nearly identical in size.The mint made test tokens (#TT-1.2) for the vending industry,and issued statements right up until the end of 1977 stating the course was set and Canadians must learn to accept the new smaller cents.I believe that when the US government added their protest it was the straw that broke the camel's back and the mint announced at the last minute that the new xtra-small cents would require further consideration and 1978 cents would be of the same specs and design as 1977.
PS Does anyone have an illustration of the then proposed tiny cent? I can't seem to find one anywhere.
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Valued Member
Canada
497 Posts |
Any idea why the US opposed the smaller Canadian cent ?
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9865 Posts |
Mostly in the interest of the US based vending industry
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Why would the US based vending industry complain? US vending machines don't accept Canadian coins do they? John1  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Which means when one if used, it jams the mech, requiring an ex$pen$ive $ervi¢e ¢all.
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Valued Member
United States
83 Posts |
+1
I think it is likely that they feared it would tried as a dime and thus jam up the works.
Edited by kensho52
01/16/2012 8:04 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
Well, coins handling equipment used in Canada is mostly US produced so I can see them not wanting to make coin rollers for a tiny cent.
I think the real problem and why it didn't happen was actually the TTC. The thing would have been the size of a subway token.
TT 1.2 is the test token, I've never seen the concept design though.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1731 Posts |
how many test tokens were made? do you think some collectors got there hands on one of them? just like other test tokens?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
I assume quite a few are out there because the catalog price isn't high but more because they were pretty far down the path of "getting it done".
It made the news for a while and went away. Maybe the Toronto Star archives will have a drawing.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1731 Posts |
so, we could probably get one of these test tokens. In my charlton, I dont see the 12 maple leaf TT, could anyone refer me to the page  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
DBM who already posted all the data I did, pointed out he can't find a picture of what it was actually going to look like, he is just going from his recalled or written description. None of the circulating pieces made it out AFAIK (if in fact any were struck).
Maybe the currency museum?
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Moderator
Australia
16844 Posts |
Quote:
PS Does anyone have an illustration of the then proposed tiny cent? I can't seem to find one anywhere. I recall seeing a picture, but I don't remember where. I tried hunting through my old Australian Coin Review magazines, but the article from the time discussing the proposed coinage had no picture. Couldn't find anything on Google Images either. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1733 Posts |
Well here's the Mint Report details, doesn't mean they didn't strike one, just that they are omitting any mention of it if they did. Month unknown Master tools are created for a 16mm diameter cent. [172.245] December 15 The Royal Canadian Mint produces a 16 mm diameter one-cent test token. It is soon discovered to be interchangeable with a higher valued Toronto Transit Commission token. [661.212] (1978 [661.63]) December 23 Yvon Gariepy, Master of the Royal Canadian Mint, announces that the proposed smaller 1c coin will not be released in 1978. [388.50] [603.1] (December 3 [136.12]) |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
It is soon discovered to be interchangeable with a higher valued Toronto Transit Commission token. [661.212] (1978 [661.63]) That may sound trivial, but you can bet that half the fares would be cents in a month or two. The US made a 5¢ stamp with Florida, and in short order tens of thousands of a similar Spanish stamp were being used in the US. |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,764 |
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Posted 01/16/2012 02:11 am
