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.
What are 1891 Canadian Large Cents worth? Average values for the Large Cent Queen Victoria Penny issued in 1891 vary from location to location but on average you can expect to see this coins listed price to be around $12.00 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 $9-$450 as dealers have to make some sort of profit.
- Year: 1891
- Type: Large Cent Queen Victoria Penny
- Private Party Value: $12.00-$600.00+
- Dealer Price: $9-$450+
- Face Value: 0.01 CAD
- Produced: 1,453,000
- Shape: Round
About: There are 3 main variations to collect. Large Leaf / Small Date appears to be the most valuable.
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 1891 Canadian Large Cent. This may better give you an idea what your coin is worth.
| Sales Date | Coin | Grade | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-03-25 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | F12 | $12 (LL/LD) |
| 2024-04-05 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | VF20 | $25 (LL/LD) |
| 2024-04-29 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | VF20 | $32 (LL/LD) |
| 2013-01-17 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | VF25 BN | $81 (SD/SL) |
| 2010-01-12 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | AU53 | $322 (SD/SL) |
| 2023-05-17 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | AU55 | $144 (LL/SD) |
| 2011-01-11 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | MS63 RB | $360 (LD/LL) |
| 2009-09-13 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | MS63 BN | $517 (LL/LD) |
| 2009-01-04 | 1891 Canadian Large Cent | MS64 RB | $747 (LL/LD) |
| Sales Date | Coin | Grade | Price |
Variations and Errors 3 main key variations for the reverse they are as follows.
- 1891 Large Leaves / Small Date (obverse)
- 1891 Large Leaves / Large Date (obverse)
- 1891 Small Leaves / Small Date (obverse)
In addition to the variations on the reverse there are variations for the obverse as well.
- 1891 Obverse 2
- 1891 Obverse 3
What about errors?
- Double Die Obverse - is known to exist
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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
