How to Identify the 1858 Victoria Five Cents (silver)

What It Is

Issued in 1858 by the Province of Canada, this coin introduced the five-cent denomination to Canadian decimal coinage for the first time, alongside the new cent and other silver denominations. It is a genuinely tiny coin, and its small, thin, easily-lost format earned it the popular nickname "fish scale" among collectors.

Obverse Design

The obverse features a young laureate portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, surrounded by the legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA CANADA.

Reverse Design

The reverse is dominated by a wreath of maple leaves that encircles the value "5 CENTS" and the date "1858." There is no additional text on the reverse; the country name appears only on the obverse.

Size, Weight, Metal & Edge

The coin is struck in sterling silver (.925 fine), measuring only about 15.5mm across and weighing roughly 1.16 grams, with a reeded edge. Its small diameter and light weight make it easy to confuse with a modern dime by feel alone.

Mint Marks & Date Varieties

The 1858 issue was produced by the Royal Mint in London and carries no mintmark. Later Victorian five-cent pieces from the mid-1870s onward sometimes show a small "H" for Heaton's Mint in Birmingham, but this does not apply to the 1858 date. Collectors also commonly distinguish "large date" and "small date" numeral varieties among 1858 five-cent pieces, based on the size of the digits in the date. Careful comparison of the numeral style under magnification, rather than the numbers themselves, is needed to separate these varieties. Because this was the first year of issue and the mint was still refining its dies and processes, small differences in strike quality and die alignment can also be found from piece to piece.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

Because the coin is so small, it is easily mistaken at a glance for a worn dime of similar vintage; checking the wreath for "5 CENTS" versus "10 CENTS" settles the denomination immediately. Later Victorian five-cent coins share the same basic design, so the date is the main way to confirm this is the first-year 1858 issue rather than a later strike. It is also worth remembering that no five-cent pieces were issued in most of the years immediately following 1858, so an authentic, clearly dated 1858 example represents the true starting point of the entire series.

Judging Condition

Because of its low relief and small size, wear appears quickly on this coin. Check Victoria's hair curls and the band in her hair, plus the leaf veins in the wreath, for flattening. Even lightly circulated examples can show noticeable softness in these areas. Given the coin's age and the fact that it was carried loose in pockets and purses for decades, finding an example with sharp, unworn details is comparatively unusual.

Authenticity Red Flags

Given the coin's age, silver content, and historical importance as a first-year issue, verify weight and diameter with precise tools if a coin seems unusually heavy, light, or oversized. Watch for cleaned or artificially bright surfaces that can mask actual wear, and inspect the date closely for signs of re-engraving or added digits.