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.
What are 1887 Canadian Large Cents worth? Average values for the Large Cent Queen Victoria Penny issued in 1887 vary from location to location but on average you can expect to see this coins listed price to be around $10.00 in poor condition and $600.00 in a mint state. However, if you are selling to a dealer you can expect to get a reduced rate of between $7.5-$450 as dealers have to make some sort of profit.
- Year: 1887
- Type: Large Cent Queen Victoria Penny
- Private Party Value: $10.00-$600.00+
- Dealer Price: $7.5-$450+
- Face Value: 0.01 CAD
- Produced: 1,500,000
- Shape: Round
About: Nothing super abnormal about this coin, there were only 1.5 million of these minted. Making this a rather low number when comparing mintages to some of the previous year.
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 1887 Canadian Large Cent. This may better give you an idea what your coin is worth.
| Sales Date | Coin | Grade | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-19 | 1887 Canadian Large Cent | VF | $14 (eBay) |
| 2024-04-29 | 1887 Canadian Large Cent | XF | $20 (eBay) |
| 2023-03-02 | 1887 Canadian Large Cent | MS63 RB | $100 (Stacks Bowers) |
| 2021-08-12 | 1887 Canadian Large Cent | MS64 BN | $192 (Stacks Bowers) |
| Sales Date | Coin | Grade | Price |
Variations and Errors
- 1887 7/7 (7 over 7)
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.
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.
The 1858 Canadian Penny, also known as the large cent was the first of the young Queen Victoria coins issued for the country of Canada. Prior to this issuance each province of Canada had its own currency. This coin was the one to standardize the monetary system if you will.
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.
The 1884 Canadian Large Cent / Penny is considered an important and semi-key date to remember for collectors of Canadian Coinage for both the rather low mintage numbers and the fact that the coin no longer contains the H (Heaton) mint mark.
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.
