by uthminsta » Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:53 pm
That "star" is a maple leaf. In short, 1947 maple leaf coins were made at the beginning of 1948 until the new dies were ready.
The rest of the story is... up until 1947 the coins of England (and their possessions or whatever) else said "GEORGIVS VI D G REX ET IND IMP" (George the Sixth, by the grace of God, king and emperor of India). India gained independence from the UK in 1947, so coins dated 1948 and later had to have that "ET IND IMP" part removed. The dies were not prepared yet, so starting in the beginning of 1948, Canada minted "1947 maple leaf" varieties. Once the new "GEORGIVS VI D G REX" dies were ready, they started with 1948-dated coins.