The initial obverse for the 1953 issue had a laureate portrait of Queen Elizabeth that had a high relief with the result that the two line representing a fold in the Queen's gown not being able to strike up well on the coin. This variety had been termed "no shoulder strap". Later in 1953, the relief of the model was lowered and the shoulder and hair design was strengthened. This variety is called the "shoulder strap".

In 1965, a more mature portrait of the Queen was introduced with the Queen wearing a tiara instead of a laurel wreath.
In 1967, a design of a rock dove commemorated the 1867 confederation of the provinces of Canada. In 1979, the portrait of the Queen was made smaller making the portrait proportional to the diameter of the coin.

Due to the rising cost of copper in the late 1970s which caused the one cent being produced at a loss, the coin was redesigned with a decrease in diameter, thickness and weight. In 1982, to help the blind, the shape of the coin was changed from round to a twelve-sided piece. In 1990, a new portrait of the Queen wearing a necklace and earrings was introduced. In 1992, the 125th aniversary of Confederation, all coins had the date "1867-1992".