# Why are U.S. coins Canadian-compatible?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-coins-canadian-compatible/4438>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 22, 1999, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-coins-canadian-compatible/4438 "1999-10-22T18:15:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 1999, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-u-s-coins-canadian-compatible/4438/21 "1999-11-03T19:04:00Z")

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Note that the US cent was large until the 1850’s. (That’s why we incorrectly call them pennies; they were about the same size as the old English 1d pieces [not the new 1p pieces, which are much smaller].)

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John W. Kennedy  
“Compact is becoming contract; man only earns and pays.”  
– Charles Williams

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