Currency Museum assistant curator Raewyn Passmore showcases a new mural composed entirely of pennies.
Although the Canadian penny is no longer produced, the coin is now the centre of a new exhibit at the Bank of Canada’s Currency Museum on Sparks Street.
CENTimental Journey showcases the penny’s most important moments in history.
Visitors will be able to see every penny design used in Canada. These include the pre-Confederation coins of France, Great Britain and the U.S., the first Canadian one-cent coin designed in 1858 with maple-leafed wreath, and the final penny minted in last May.
“It’s a huge part of history,” says Raewyn Passmore, assistant curator at the museum. “We want to celebrate it before it is discontinued.”
In May 2012, the federal government decreed that the penny would be withdrawn from circulation. The Royal Canadian Mint will stop distributing it on Feb. 4.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said many consumers and retailers considered the penny an annoyance and the coin was cut for cost-saving reasons.
The last penny was minted last May in Winnipeg and was struck by Flaherty. This penny was transferred back to the Bank of Canada for public display at the museum.
“We want to make this coin available for people,” says Passmore. “The penny is a pretty familiar coin to everybody and they might be surprised to find out how diverse and varied the penny really is.”
The exhibit also includes a poster explaining the use, value and design of the penny throughout history.
“I hope visitors consider the importance of the penny,” says Passmore. “Some older generations can remember that they were able to buy candy and toys with a few pennies.”
In the past, the penny was the main coin people used. According to Passmore, the penny was like a modern-day $20 bill.
Montreal couple Madeleine and Rosaire Lariviere visited the museum on the exhibit’s opening day and said it was worth the trip.
“The origins and history of the older coins and pennies are interesting to see,” says Rosaire Lariviere.
As visitors enter the museum, a wall-length mural of the pennies greets them. In the design of a modern penny, the mural is constructed from tarnished, older pennies donated to the museum by friends, and newer pennies donated by the mint.
The mural is currently missing one penny, which will be placed by the winner of an essay contest the museum held in December for Ottawa Grade 4 and 5 students.
Sean Isaacs, professional coin dealer at Alliance Coin and Banknote, says it is important to celebrate the penny.
“The legacy of our one cent coin is a long and distinguished one. Everything we price, sell and spend had its very foundation build upon the penny and halfpennies of pre-Confederation Canada,” says Isaacs.
When the exhibit ends, Passmore says the coins on display will become part of the national currency collection.
CENTimental Journey runs until July 2 at the Currency Museum of the Bank of Canada, located at 245 Sparks St. Admission is free for all visitors.