By Library and Archives Canada | Monday, March 29, 2004 Prince
Edward Island was the last of the British North American
colonies to adopt a decimal system of currency. 'Going decimal'
in 1871, the island chose a dollar equal in value to the United
States one-dollar gold piece, in line with the decimal currency
system introduced earlier in the Provinces of Canada and New
Brunswick and adopted by the Dominion of Canada in 1867. The
only decimal coin struck for P.E.I. prior to its entry in
Confederation in 1873 was a one-cent piece in 1871. This
attractive coin was designed and engraved by Leonard C. Wyon,
who for some forty years was the principal engraver for the
Royal Mint in London The obverse of the coin depicts a diademed
head of the queen, a design that was already being used for the
Jamaica halfpenny. The reverse was adapted from thc official
seal for the island. The central design shows a large oak tree
(representing the United Kingdom) sheltering three smaller ones
(the three countries of the island) w