New penny

The new penny!

In 2013, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced a new design for the Canadian penny, which was the first major change to the coin's design in over 50 years. The new penny features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse (front) side, designed by artist Susanna Blunt. The reverse (back) side features a common loon, a symbol of Canada, designed by artist Robert-Ralph Lemieux.

The new penny was introduced to replace the old penny, which had been in circulation since 1908. The old penny featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse side, designed by artist Mary Gillick, and a maple leaf on the reverse side.

The new penny was designed to be more durable and resistant to wear and tear, with a thicker and heavier composition than the old penny. The coin is made of a copper-plated zinc alloy, which is more resistant to corrosion and wear than the old penny's copper-plated steel composition.

The new penny was also designed to be more accessible and inclusive, with a larger and more prominent braille marking on the coin to help visually impaired individuals identify it.