Until the 1876 H Large Cent was minted at the Heaton (H) mint, a standardized cent for Canada had not been in use for 17 years. Because of this the 1876 H Canadian penny is considered a key date in Canadian coinage history.
What are 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cents worth? Average values for the Large Cent Queen Victoria Penny issued in 1876 vary from location to location but on average you can expect to see this coins listed price to be around $5.00 in poor condition and $500.00 in a mint state. However, if you are selling to a dealer you can expect to get a reduced rate of between $3.75-$375 as dealers have to make some sort of profit.
- Year: 1876
- Type: Large Cent Queen Victoria Penny
- Private Party Value: $5.00-$500.00+
- Dealer Price: $3.75-$375+
- Face Value: 0.01 CAD
- Produced: 4,000,000
- Shape: Round
About: This coin is a good choice for those looking to pickup or trade late 1800s era Canadian coinage without paying too much. These coins are relatively speaking affordable as its reported that 4 million of them have been minted. You can pick up one of these loose at a coin shop or coin show for a few dollars if you simply want to own one, but finding a top end specimen graded and with decent coloring will cost you a few hundred dollars, but surely less than $400.
Obverse (front)
Latin inscription, "VICTORIA DEI GRATIA REGINA. CANADA", which means Victoria, Queen by the Grace of God. Young Queen Victoria with laurel wreath in her hair.
Reverse (back)
ONCE CENT and the Date in a circle located center. 16 total maple leaves wind their way around the outermost circle.
Designer: Leonard Charles Wyon (Obverse), Leonard Charles Wyon (Reverse)
History Repeats Itself
A well known and popular saying for a good reason. One of the best predictors of a coin's value is its historic sales. Here are a few sales records for the 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cent. This may better give you an idea what your coin is worth.
| Sales Date | Coin | Grade | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-03 | 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cent | VF | $10 (eBay) |
| 2012-05-01 | 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cent | AU58 BN | $34 (Heritage) |
| 2020-08-06 | 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cent | MS63 BN | $120 (Heritage) |
| 2010-01-12 | 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cent | MS64 RB | $345 (Heritage) |
| 2023-06-04 | 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cent | MS65 BN | $228 (Heritage) |
| 2022-09-15 | 1876 H Canadian Victoria Cent | MS65 RB | $432 (Heritage) |
| Sales Date | Coin | Grade | Price |
Variations and Errors
Known variations include
- Special Proofs - were issued and are marked as SP. One sold for $4,500 at Heritage
- Red (RD) color variations are for some reason super rare. - one sold for $1,300 MS-65 RED
- Red Brown (RB) - These are not the absolute best in color but they seem to make up the majority of the higher end sales. As state before RD not readily available.
- Brown (BN) color variations are very affordable.
Where is the mint mark located? If the coin in question has a mint mark it will be at the bottom center of the reverse. Look for an H which stands for Heaton Mint located in Birmingham England. 
Important Dates:
1858,1876-H,1884,1891,1894,1908 C are rare semi-key, key, and general dates of interest to collectors.
The 1887 Canadian Penny, also known as the Canadian Large Cent or the Victoria Cent is a larger than normal 1c coin used in Canada but minted in England.
The 1888 Canadian Penny, also known as the Canadian Large Cent or the Victoria Cent is a larger than normal 1c coin used in Canada but minted in England.
The 1888 Canadian Penny, also known as the Canadian Large Cent or the Victoria Cent is a larger than normal 1c coin used in Canada but minted in England.
In 1890 the H for Heaton mint was again present on the reverse bottom center.
1891 the design changed slightly with more detail being added to the leaves on the reverse of the coin. There are several variations to note, be sure to check the list in the variations and error section below.
