THE LAST CANADIAN CENT

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 47, 2025, Article 25

THE LAST CANADIAN CENT

A quote often attributed to Winston Churchill is generally stated as, "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they've tried everything else." Last week we struck the last U.S. cents for circulation. Canada did that thirteen years ago in 2012. There are other parallels in discussions of how the officiating officials handled the precious last coins. John Regitko wrote about the Canadian Last Cent in his column in Canadian Coin News. With permission, here's a relevant excerpt and accompanying photos. Thank you! -Editor

Although the Prime Minister can designate any Minister to be responsible for the Mint, it has been the Minister of Finance that has been given the assignment for a number of years.

My inquisitive mind wondered if one of the qualifications for the appointment to some of the top positions at the RCM is that you must be a coin collector?

I think I have a sure fire way to prove which highly placed gurus are coin collectors and which ones are not.

Pictures don't lie!

For example, during the striking of the Last Cent, the then Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, wore a full hand glove.

And that was just to press a button on the outside of the minting press that houses the striking chamber containing the blank, as can be seen in Figure 1.

Pressing button on minting press for the last Canadian cent

Further, after the cent was retrieved from the minting press. Flaherty held it up for a photo opportunity with his gloved hand, as can be seen in Figure 2.

These photos were taken at the Winnipeg Plant by a CBC photographer on May 4, 2012.

As can be seen, no greasy paws touched this treasure!

Conclusion: Jim Flaherty is a true coin collector!

Here are photos from the striking of the last U.S. cent. -Editor

U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach holding the last struck penny

Look Ma, No Gloves!

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE U.S. MINTS ITS FINAL CENTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n46a12.html)
MORE ON THE DEATH OF THE CENT (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n46a13.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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