Diagnostic Controls & Presets Canadian Crown Rarity
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
To produce coins in early 1937 before King George VI dies arrived from London, the Royal Canadian Mint added a tiny punch dot below the date on 1936 dies.
Struck in late spring 1937. When George VI dies arrived, virtually the entire production run of 678,823 cents was melted down unissued.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
Purchased by Pittman in 1954 for $250; sold decades later as the crowning centerpiece of Canadian numismatics.
Exceptional blast-white specimen with pristine cartwheel luster and needle-sharp raised dot beneath the bow.
A normal 1936 cent with a punch indentation pushed from the reverse to create a fraudulent raised pimple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Canadian coins struck with a 'Dot' in 1936?
In January 1936, King George V died, and King Edward VIII succeeded him. However, in December 1936, Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson before any Canadian coins bearing his likeness could be issued. In early 1937, Canada faced coin shortages but could not strike coins of a dead king without permission. The Royal Canadian Mint struck coins using old 1936 dies but added a tiny raised dot beneath the date to indicate they were minted in 1937 under the new reign.
How many 1936 Dot Cents exist today?
Only THREE genuine specimens of the 1936 Dot Cent are known to exist in the world. Two are in private collections, and one is preserved in the Bank of Canada Museum in Ottawa. Official records show that 678,823 dot cents were struck, but when dies for King George VI finally arrived in May 1937, the entire production run was ordered melted down.
What is the John Jay Pittman 1936 Dot Cent story?
John Jay Pittman was an American chemical engineer and legendary numismatist. In 1954, at an auction in Rochester, New York, he secretly bought the 1936 Dot Cent for just $250. He kept it until his death in 1996. When his collection was auctioned, the coin sold for over $120,000, and later resold for over $400,000!
Are 1936 Dot Dimes and 25-Cent coins also rare?
The 1936 Dot Dime is rare and valuable (worth $2,000 to $15,000+ depending on grade), with an estimated survival of several thousand coins. The 1936 Dot 25-Cent is also scarce, but the 1936 Dot Cent is by far the crown jewel and most valuable coin in Canadian history.
How can you detect a fake 1936 Dot Cent?
Because a genuine Dot Cent is worth $400,000 and a regular 1936 cent is worth 25 cents, many fakes exist. Scammers use a punch to tap the coin from the reverse to raise a pimple, or solder a tiny metal ball beneath the date. Under 30x magnification, genuine coins show unbroken radial flow lines passing smoothly around the dot, with no tool marks, craters, or solder seams.
Where was the dot positioned on the coin?
On the 1936 Dot Cent, the dot is positioned directly below the date '1936', centered halfway between the bottom of the digits and the rim denticles. On the dime, it appears just beneath the ribbon knot of the wreath.
How much is a genuine 1936 Dot coin worth?
A genuine 1936 Dot Cent is valued at $350,000 to $500,000+ USD. A 1936 Dot Dime sells for $1,500 in circulated condition and $8,000 to $18,000 in uncirculated condition at premier auctions.