JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 37 - August 28, 2008 - Special "Olympics" Issue At first I thought I might be out of the loop, out of touch to receiving things to do with the Beijing Olympic coinage that is issued prior to any Olympic event, be it summer or winner or Special Olympics. Look at what the Royal Canadian Mint and the 2010 Olympic Committee have done with our circulating and non-circulating Canadian coinage. I cannot plunk down a Loonie or Toonie for a Toronto Star without getting back a circulating Olympic 25-cent coin.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 36 - August 26, 2008 - Special "Letters Only" Issue I asked a couple of Eh-Bulletins ago about the length, contents and frequency of these bulletins. I was certain that a number of you wanted changes made. The dozen or so that asked to be removed since the beginning have already voted for what they don't want. I was certain that the majority of the other 2,600 of you wanted major changes. But since you haven't asked to be removed, I can only assume that you get the odd "benefit" from my rantings, be it the humour, the stupid criminal stuff, or some of the serious things that sneak in every once in a while. Although I wonder how many of my relatives and neighbours actually read most of it.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 35 - August 20, 2008 - Special "Stupid Politicians" Issue I have accumulated a file on some of the things that politicians do involving money, which I thought I would share with you in a special "Stupid Politicians" Issue.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 34 - August 15, 2008 I went to my local branch of TD Canada Trust the other day and, out of curiosity, picked up one of their brochures entitled "TD Visa Credit Cards." Under the sub-title of "Choose the card that’s right for you," 8 different ones are currently available. But what struck me is that the application form, in very bold lettering, told me that I could "only check one card." That means that I have to depend on friends to get me their expired ones if I want to collect the complete set. I guess TD Canada Trust and Visa figured that one card with a credit limit of up to $500,000 should be enough, even for a big spender like me.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 33 - August 11, 2008 Some years ago, Easy-Off Bam ran an advertisement that showed how nice and shiny a cent became when it was dipped in their product. Although I figured at the time that very few, if any, coin collectors would do it to their coins, I hoped that non-collectors that had a few old-looking coins wouldn't destroy any value their coins might have by doing exactly what the commercial showed. Well, Easy-Off Bam is at it again!

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 32 – August 7, 2008 I spend time with my wife, we visit our son, we dine out, we grocery shop together, go to malls. I also spend time on these Eh-Bulletins, a local coin club bulletin and write a regular column on errors in Canadian Coin News. My wife and I also spend quality time together over dinner. The last thing we want is for complete strangers to call in the middle of our meal telling me that I can get hooked up to whatever service they are selling for a month for free…without telling me how much it costs beyond that. And I bet that every one of you receives the same calls.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 31 - August 2, 2008 No "In God We Trust" on coinage. No Santa Claus or Mangers in malls. No Christmas trees on public property. No prayer in schools and in offices across the nation. What's next, you ask?

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 30 - July 29, 2008 With the high price of gasoline, I wonder if some of you have wondered if you should cut out going to some coin club meetings or out-of-town coin shows. You probably drive an SUV or large automobile and the saving might be more than a few pennies per trip.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 29 - July 23, 2008 What we won’t do to save money! I appreciate my privacy. I appreciate my right to choose who I give my personal information to. When I go to the Mandarin Buffet Restaurant, I show them my driver’s license to show I am indeed 67 to get a 20 percent discount. Ditto to the cashier at Shoppers Drug Mart during Seniors Day. This is the price I have to pay to get lower prices. But how far would I be willing to go not only to save money, but to actually be able to buy something I want.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 28 - July 16, 2008 I never thought that I would see the day that it is illegal to display collectibles such as antique posters, Coca Cola signs and beer coasters, in my own place of business anywhere in Canada. I was under the mistaken impression that Canada, like the U.S., is truly a free society...

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 26 - July 8, 2008 While the general population is getting older, it seems that criminals are getting younger. Everyday, the Canadian press reports more and more youth that cannot be identified because of their age that are convicted of serious crimes like armed robbery, possession of guns, attempted murder and, worse, murder. Because their life seems to evolve around money in a lot of cases, if they are not dealing in drugs, they mug little old ladies or rob banks and convenience stores... and harm anybody that tries to get in their way.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 25 - July 5, 2008 I have received, not just dozens, but hundreds, of e-mails purporting to be from Microsoft, Nigerian widows and bank managers, lotteries from England and other parts of Europe, companies I never heard of wanting to pay me commission just to collect money from them. I was also assisted by a number of subscribers to these Eh-Bulletins who made me aware of some funny ones they received.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 24 - July 2, 2008 I wrote previously about the proliferation of replicas and counterfeit coins coming out mostly from China. I even admitted that I am part of the problem because I had purchased a few copies which only encourage the middlemen and manufacturers to continue to make these items available. I knew they were copies and the seller knew they were copies, so there was no deception involved.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 23 - June 29, 2008 I spent the weekend at the Torex coin show run by Brian Smith out of the Hilton Airport in Toronto...

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 22 - June 25, 2008 I wonder if my credit card collection will send me to jail?

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 21 - June 20, 2008 SPECIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION!

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 19 - June 13, 2008 In Tuesday's issue in my "Closing Comment," I included a facetious write-up about "consumption during a time when most people are cutting back on purchasing, not a good thing for the economy." The idea came to me from an anonymous article that was forwarded to me by one of my correspondents...

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 18 - June 10, 2008 One of the hot topics on talk shows and in the press is the European Union's decision to allow cellphones on airplanes. If this comes to North America, you could be flying to a coin show listening in, whether you want to or not, your neighbour's babble...

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 17 - June 6, 2008 I bet you didn't even know that World Laughter Day was held at the beginning of May. That was the day that practitioners of yoga declared that we should "celebrate World Laughter Day!" They suggest the following...

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 16 - June 3, 2008 In my many years of involvement in the hobby, I have never heard of anyone complain in my presence about the high shipping fees they charge to send coins or paper money to their out-of-town customers. Although that may have happened, most dealers simply charge the actual amount of postage, plus any insurance costs.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 15 - May 30, 2008 Hey, good news for all you struggling coin dealers. If you have been unfortunate enough to show a loss on your financial statement and you are depressed, this should change your attitude.

JOHN REGITKO’S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 14 - May 27, 2008 Sometimes I have the stupidest ideas, although when it sinks in, people tend to nod their head and agree with the logic, no matter how weird it seems at first.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 13 - May 23, 2008 Some years ago, Easy-Off Bam ran an advertisement that showed how nice and shiny a cent became when it was dipped in their product. Although I figured at the time that very few, if any, coin collectors would do it to their coins, I hoped that non-collectors that had a few old-looking coins wouldn't destroy any value their coins might have by doing exactly what the commercial showed. Well, Easy-Off Bam is at it again!

JOHN REGITKO’S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 11 - May 15, 2008 The Numismatic Eh-Bulletin is about the weird, unusual, entertaining and funny stuff about coin collecting and money generally. Most of the articles are funny, some might make you think...but above all, most will be a complete waste of your time.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 10 - May 13, 2008 I don't think we give enough credit to the non-collector family members that attend coin club meetings and shows regularly, just so that their child can attend. Hopefully, in the process, the parent will also catch the collecting bug and join in the child's hobby. I venture to guess there are thousands of parents we have to thank for taking the time to bring their kids into the hobby.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 9 - May 9, 2008 If you are a customer of Tim Hortons, you will have noticed the new credit card scanning equipment installed by Chase. With the latest increases for a number of items on the menu such as the recent 5-cent increase for a cup of coffee, which translates to millions of dollars in extra income, I suppose it was inevitable.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 8 - May 6,2008 So much happened at the recent ONA Convention in Sudbury that I like to report on, that I thought I would make a special Tuesday bulletin out of it. Although the Ontario Numismatic Association had another hit on their hands, thanks to the hard work of ONA President, Tom Rogers, his boss, wife Lois and the committee from the Nickel Belt Coin Club, this bulletin has very little to do with the convention itself. Rather, it deals almost entirely with the humorous incidences and jokes that came out of it. Don't blame me for that!

JOHN REGITKO’S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - Volume 1, Number 7 - May 2, 2008 Okay, dealers, you better go back to school and learn about the products you are selling, be it coins and paper money, watches, designer clothes, handbags and antiques of all kinds. Some manufacturers want you to be responsible to protect their copyright.

JOHN REGITKO’S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN - SPOTLIGHT ON LOWLY CENT - PART THREE In the last two Tuesdays, I published a few items about the possible elimination of the cent. Here is part three. I deal with the copyright of the words "one cent" and the cent design, as well as other copyright issues. At the end you will find my final word on the cent, so I can move on to other subjects such as the new $5 coin in Canada and the U.S., a common North American currency, world money, space money and other trumped-up items that everyone has an opinion on but nothing is going to happen in our lifetime.

JOHN REGITKO’S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN For the past 50 years, at every club meeting I attended and in every hobby periodical I received, there was the same predicted: "doom and gloom for the hobby…unless we cater to juniors "who are the future of the hobby." Looking around the room at meetings or scanning the bourse room at conventions, I had to agree that the hobby is indeed dead if the lack of juniors were any indication.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN A free electronic publication about the weird, unusual, entertaining and funny stuff about coin collecting and money generally. Most of the articles will be funny, some might make you think…but above all, most will be a complete waste of your time. SPOTLIGHT ON THE LOWLY CENT - PART TWO Last Tuesday, I published a few items about the possible elimination of the cent. Here is part two on things that deal with the same topic.

JOHN REGITKO'S NUMISMATIC EH-BULLETIN A free electronic publication about the weird, unusual, entertaining and funny stuff about coin collecting and money generally. Most of the articles will be funny, some might make you think…but above all, most will be a complete waste of your time.

The Newfoundland 1896 Ten Cent Piece There is an interesting observation in the 1896 Newfoundland ten cent pieces in that many collectors call this a "sleeper" date- I would tend to agree. I have my reasons for this and they are twofold.

The February 2008 Torex® Auction The Canadian Coinoisseur February Torex® Auction has strength and depth in many areas besides the expected Maritime and Canadian Decimal coins. There are outstanding selections of Paper Money, Pre-Confederation Tokens, Gold Coins and United States Coins, and the vast majority of the lots are offered without reserve.

Don't miss.... Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show at its New Venue! After 3 years at the Radisson Admiral Hotel Toronto Harbourfront, Torex® is moving in 2008 to an exciting new venue: The Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel. The Hilton is conveniently located at Highway 427 and Highway 401, directly across from Pearson International Airport, and only 20 minutes from downtown Toronto.

Don't miss... Torex Canada's National Coin Show! The much-awaited two-day winter Torex® Coin Show will open to the general public at 10am on Saturday, February 26, 2005 and continues through Sunday February 27, 2005 at the Radisson Admiral Hotel - Toronto Harbourfront. The February 2005 auction will will be conducted in three sessions, beginning on Thursday February 24th.

eBay Canada Special Guest At June 2001 Torex® Coin Show & Auctions The second of three Torex® Shows in 2001 will be held on June 16th and 17th at Toronto's PRIMROSE HOTEL - DOWNTOWN, LOCATED AT 111 Carlton Street. Torex®, now in its 39th. year, is Canada's longest running collector's show. Its two-day format features a bourse area with 50 dealers from across Canada.

Don't miss the October 2001 Torex® Coin Show & Auction! Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show plays host to Canada's Finest Dealers in Canadian, Ancient and foreign Coins, Paper Money, Cards, Militaria, Reference Books & Hobby Supplies. The third of three Torex® Shows in 2001 will be held on October 27 & 28 at Toronto's PRIMROSE HOTEL - DOWNTOWN, LOCATED AT 111 Carlton Street. Torex®, now in its 39th. year, is Canada's longest running collector's show. Its two-day format features a bourse area with 50 dealers from across Canada. The Torex® show auction will be conducted by Michael Walsh, The Canadian Coinoisseur Inc. Numismatic Auctions.

The Truth About Grading Yes or No. When I became a professional numismatist there were no grading services and authentication services were not yet popular. Most everyone who wanted to become a coin dealer understood how important it was to be able to tell good from bad. Counterfeit and altered coins were a real problem.

CCRS Discussion now allows image uploading! We are happy to report that as of Jan. 15, 2002, The Canadian Coin Reference Site provides free image hosting on the Discussion. This is a great way to quickly share images of coins with other collectors.

Tom's Tips for the Savvy Investor - Part III If you missed the first two parts of this article they can be found by visiting the Archives section of the CCRS.

Tom’s Tips for the Savvy Investor - Part I If you want to make money by investing in coins you probably should read what follows. If you’d like to avoid losing money by investing in coin you absolutely need to read what comes next.

Tom's Tips for the Savvy Investor - Part II How is anyone going to make a significant and successful investment in rare coins by buying the cheap stuff? The answer is simple. If owning one of these coins is a good idea then having a dozen is twelve times better.

If You Have Enough Dealers You Don't Need Collectors Thanks to the electronic trading venues, the number of people who buy and sell coins for profit has never been greater. It's now entirely possible for someone with no previous experience in the marketplace to establish a modest business and complete thousands of transactions within a few months. Is this good for the hobby?

Torex® moving in 2005 to The Radisson Admiral Hotel - Toronto Harbourfront Torex® is thrilled to announce the name and location of its new 2005 venue, The Radisson Admiral Hotel, Toronto Harbourfront, 249 Queens Quay West, in the Admiral's Ballroom. Contracts were officially signed today for 3 - 2005 Torex® Shows.

Stolen Coins Alert!! The coins listed were stolen from Phil Smith (Phil's Coins) while returning home from the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Coin Show. The theft occurred on Saturday, January 10, 2004 in Valdosta, Georgia at approximately 7:30 PM. The coins were stolen from his automobile. Phil did not incur any physical harm. The coins were contained in a large and a small brown briefcase. Checks and cash were contained in a red bank deposit bag from Fulton National Bank in Atlanta.

Second Annual Stratford Spring Coin Show Second Annual Stratford Spring Coin Show, Knights of Columbus Community Centre

Susanna Blunt the Royal Canadian Mint's new effigy artist's Instore Appearance Susanna Blunt, the West Vancouver artist, whose crownless image of Queen Elizabeth II now graces Canada's new circulating and collector coins, is appearing in the coin and stamp department, on the fourth floor of the downtown Vancouver Hudson's Bay Store, on Saturday January 31, 2004, between 11am and 3pm.

‘Shill’ coin bids in eBay auctions draw complaints Collectors, dealers say abusers are let off too easily.

The Second Side & Grading When the opportunity presents itself, watch someone examine a Canadian coin with the intention of grading it. Based on my experience, the majority of graders will spend more time studying the obverse. From what I've seen, it is rare indeed to find a grader of Canadian coins who will begin the examination by reviewing the coin's reverse side.

Celebrating Learning and Sharing Across The Generations - September 25-Cent Coin Launched A design by Cezar Serbanescu, a seventeen-year old Montrealer, has been chosen in the Royal Canadian Mint's "Create a Centsation!" competition for the September 2000 coin. His passion for the design and his desire to provide something new to his country inspired him to enter the contest. By choosing Wisdom as his theme, he has captured Canada's mentoring tradition.

Brass In Pocket - Investing and Collecting Coins Coin collecting, or numismatics, is an interesting segment of the collectibles market. People collect coins for their aesthetic appeal, but also for their investment potential. More than this, however, people appreciate that they are unique items that have a staying power like few other collectibles. Very seldom do you see a plush toy that is several hundred years old.

The Sucre Stops Here

Canadian mint to produce three-cent coin Details of collector's item are being kept under wraps

The June 2004 Torex® exceeded all my expectations. A perfect and hospitable weekend with blue skies and a radiant sun set the stage for the weekend June 2004 Torex® Coin Show in downtown Toronto. This show completely exceeded all of my expectations.

The Red Tailed-Hawk 50 Cent Proof Coin One of four year 2000 Canadian Fifty Cent Sterling Silver Proof coins celebrating species of Birds of Prey.

Heads and Tails Making money from coin collecting isn't that hard if you're methodical and, let's face it, a little nerdy

Don't miss.... Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show! The much-awaited two-day fall Torex® Coin Show opens to the general public at 10am on Saturday, October 25, 2003 and continues through Sunday October 26, 2003 at the Novotel Toronto - Centre Hotel in the St. Lawrence Market district of historic Old Town Toronto (Note: auctions always begin on Fridays).

Don't miss.... Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show! The much-awaited two-day Fall Torex® Coin Show will open to the general public at 10am on Saturday, October 30, 2004 and continues through Sunday October 31, 2004 at the Novotel Toronto - Centre in the St. Lawrence Market district of historic Old Town Toronto. The October 2004 auction will will be conducted in three sessions, beginning on Thursday 28 October.

Get Ready for a great weekend of Coin Action at Torex®! This weekend in downtown Toronto is Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show! Don't miss this one!! It's going to be great!

1921 50 cent piece to sell at Torex® The upcoming Torex® show auction will be conducted by Moore Numismatic Auctions, Inc. The "King" of Canadian Coins A Mint State, 1921 Fifty Cents will be up for auction.

MOORE'S June 2004 Torex® Auction features over 2700 lots. An impressive Maritime Banknote Collection with additional Dominion of Canada, Bank of Canada and Chartered Canadian Banknote Collections, and Mint State Victorian, Edwardian and George V coinage highlight the 2004 TOREX auction sale.

Moore's October 2007 Torex® Auction Features Over 2150 Lots of Canadian, Newfoundland, and World Coins, Banknotes, and Tokens An impressive Banknote Collection featuring Dominion of Canada, Bank of Canada and Chartered Canadian Banknotes, as well as extensive collections of Proofs and Specimens and rare Scrip. Mint State Victorian, Edwardian and George V coinage and patterns, early Specimen Sets and Modern coinage in MS-69 to SP-70 also highlight the October 2007 Torex® auction sale.

Moore's October 2005 Torex® Auction Features Over 2,400 Lots

New $100 note with improved security features goes into circulation March 17, 2004. The new $100 note was unveiled on 28 January 2004. It will go into circulation beginning 17 March 2004. It is the third in the new series of bank notes called Canadian Journey. This new series features themes that celebrate Canada's history, culture, and achievements.

Free Coin Show Listings! The Canadian Coin Reference Site is very pleased to announce the redesign and launch of its new Coin Show Directory!

The Newfoundland Series Newfoundland started as the first British colony during the Elizabethan times, which had it's first residence built in St. John's in 1528. There have been some interesting influences on it's economy and thus is currency such as the Great Depression of the 1870's in particular 1873-1877 as well as the bank failures of the mid-1890's.

Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show moves to new venue in October 2002 The Torex® Coin Show - Canada's National Coin Show moves to a new venue in October 2002. Contracts were officially signed today at the Novotel Toronto Centre booking Torex® for 4 shows, first show starting October 2002.

State quarter has a 2001 date with Lady Liberty

Introducing the new Canadian Coin Reference Site Marketplace! I am pleased to announce the introduction of the new Canadian Coin Reference Site Marketplace, the exciting new online venue to buy & sell numismatic collectibles and related items.

The CCRS Marketplace Christmas Special! Now is the perfect time to buy and sell on the Canadian Coin Reference Site Marketplace!

News Flash!!! News Flash! Torex® official Auctioneer, Charles Moore will appear Friday morning between 7 & 9am on CityTV's 'Breakfast Television.'

Moore's February 2007 Torex® Auction - Featuring over 2350 lots of Canadian, Newfoundland, and World coins, banknotes and tokens.

MOORE'S February 2005 Torex® Auction Features over 2,400 Lots An impressive Banknote Collection featuring a Dominion of Canada, 1911 $500.00 note. Bank of Canada and Chartered Canadian Banknote Proof, Specimens and rare issued notes and Mint State Victorian, Edwardian and George V coinage and patterns highlight the 2005 TOREX auction sale.

CCRS Discussion Notice Although common internet practice is for the host of such discussion groups not to interfere in or edit any threads or posts, it has come to the attention of the CCRS webmaster that certain posts by some participants violated our policy of fairness and honesty in all postings.

June 2000 Upcoming Canadian Coin Shows

Don't miss.... Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show!  The much-awaited two-day summer Torex® Coin Show opens to the general public at 10am on Saturday, June 26, 2004 and continues through Sunday June 27, 2004 at the Novotel Toronto - Centre in the St. Lawrence Market district of historic Old Town Toronto (Note: Session 1 of the June 2004 Torex® auction will begin on Thursday June 24, 2004 @ 7pm).

Using a Magnifying Glass Even the most eagle-eyed professional numismatists will sometimes "cheat" and use a magnifying glass to supplement their normal vision. The really intelligent pros put vanity aside and realize it is worth the time and effort to get the best possible look at any potential purchase.

Vodka, Soda, 1 Ice Cube & Lime Who eats, works, dreams, talks, sleeps, walks, collects, authenticates, catalogues, instructs ---in a word--- lives numismatics? Ingrid Smith-Hölker In fact the only thing she does not do is drink numismatics. I can attest to the fact that she drinks vodka (neat).

Alert: Major Burglary after weekend CAND Coin Show in Hamilton, Ontario. This "break in" occurred about 7:00 pm, Jan 25. On the east Hamilton mountain. No one injured, fairly extensive damage to the house, door and windows broken. The total value of this one is well over $100,000, none of which is insured.

Handy & Harman of Canada, Limited has been granted a license by the Minister of Finance to melt and recycle Canadian silver coins.

Sid and Alicia Belzberg Collection of Canadian Coinage Heritage World Coin Auctions of Dallas, Texas has been awarded the honor of auctioning the renowned Sid and Alicia Belzberg collection of Canadian coinage. The collection is virtually complete & legendary among Canadian coin collectors.

1944 NFLD. DECIMAL This paper is being written to discuss the Rare/Scarce/Rare appearance of the 1944 NFLD. 1 cent/5 cent/10 cent pieces respectively as the appear in the marketplace and why. I recently wandered through a copy of a 1983 edition of "Currency and Medals of Newfoundland". In this process it became apparent to me as to why the above coins are so difficult to find.

Diverse offerings at Torex® sale Jeffrey Hoare Auctions has come up with another diverse selection for the June Torex® sale.

The CCRS is proud to receive The CoinLink "Site of the Week" Award The "CoinLink Numismatic Portal and Rare Coins Directory" Website has selected The Canadian Coin Reference Site as numismatic The "Site of the Week" Award for June 23, 2003.

Niagara men charged with counterfeiting WELLAND, Ont. (CP) - Police say they have broken a counterfeit ring responsible for thousands of dollars worth of bogus bills circulating in the Niagara Region and surrounding areas.

E DAY arrives in Europe At midnight tonight, the largest currency change in world history takes place as some 300 million Europeans bid farewell to the franc, mark, drachma, peseta, lira, gulden, schilling, markka and escudo. Starting tomorrow morning, everyone in 12 member nations of the European Union will start using euro notes and coins for cash transactions.

Check out the Upcoming February 2004 Torex® Auction Catalogue on eBay LiveAuctions Michael Walsh, The Canadian Coinoisseur, has scanned in and uploaded all content for the February 28 & 29 Torex® auction (1,863 LOTS!!). A huge amount of work to be sure!

TOREX® SHOW ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS IN EVERY RESPECT The February 2001 Torex® Show was another successful event, according to all reports. Dealers reported brisk business, both with the public as well as amongst themselves. Collectors in decimal coins, paper money and tokens also reported satisfaction in their acquisitions of material. Some pieces of jewellery also found new homes.

Many Rarities in the February Torex® Auction Michael Walsh, the Canadian Coinoisseur has catalogued an outstanding auction for the next Torex®. Many significant rarities are included among the 948 lots and the sale has a total catalogue value well in excess of one million dollars. The auction will be conducted in two evening sessions, 7 PM on Friday and 5 PM on Saturday the 23rd and 24th of February at the Primrose Hotel in downtown Toronto.

Don't miss.... this weekend's Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show! Come on out for this weekend's Torex® coin show in downtown Toronto! The much awaited two day event opens to the general public on Saturday, February 22, 2003 at the Novotel Toronto - Centre in downtown Toronto.

Don't miss....Torex® - Canada's National Coin Show! The much-awaited two-day winter Torex® Coin Show opens to the general public at 10am on Saturday, February 28, 2004 and continues through Sunday February 29, 2004 at the Novotel Toronto - Centre in the St. Lawrence Market district of historic Old Town Toronto (Note: auctions always begin on Fridays).

An open letter to the coin community from Ian Laing, President of Gatewest Coin Statements and claims have been made by various individuals regarding Gatewest Coins' ability to carry and sell certain coins made by the Royal Canadian Mint.

The Difference Between Grade and Appearance It is difficult for some collectors to comprehend that when considering the attributes of many Canadian coins the technical grade may be of secondary importance. It is entirely possible that a coin deserving the Very Fine grade can be more attractive and desirable than one properly graded as Extremely Fine. It is also quite common to find a situation where two coins that are rightly given the same grade can vary greatly when we consider all the attributes of each piece.

The Great Horned Owl 50 Cent Proof Coin One of four year 2000 Canadian Fifty Cent Sterling Silver Proof coins celebrating species of Birds of Prey.

Coin Grading Test In early October, of 2004, following discussions on canadiancoin.com, I asked if some of the members would like to join a small group, and submit coins to two grading services, and working on the theory that raw coins only would be sent, I immediately had several takers.

C.N.A. E-Bulletin Volume 2, Number 25 - September 20, 2006

C.N.A. E-Bulletin Volume 2, Number 27 - September 25, 2006

Hundreds of coins found in patient's belly BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- French doctors were taken aback when they discovered the reason for a patient's sore, swollen belly: He had swallowed around 350 coins -- $650 worth -- along with assorted necklaces and needles.

Canadian Numismatic Association E-Bulletin Volume 3, Number 22 - April 6, 2007

C.N.A. E-Bulletin - Volume 2, Number 24 - September 10, 2006

C.N.A. E-Bulletin Volume 2, Number 30 - October 20, 2006

C.N.A. E-Bulletin Volume 3, Number 16 - March 16, 2007 Are male collectors genuinely show-offs? "Colonial Homes" magazine did a survey revealing the differences of opinion between men and women when it comes to what they would want in their ideal home. (Eighty-eight percent of the total respondents were collectors.) Twenty-seven percent of the men said they wanted a separate room designed to showcase their collections, whereas only seven percent of the women wanted such a room. According to editor Annette Stramesi, "Women perhaps blend their collections into the overall interior design of their home. Men seem to want their own 'collectors' cabinets to show the results of their treasured hunts."

C.N.A. E-Bulletin Number 7 - March 20, 2005 The cat is out of the bag!

C.N.A. E-Bulletin - Volume 1, Number 5 - March 1, 2005

C.N.A. E-Bulletin - Vol. 1 No. 4 - February 20, 2005 Thank you for all the e-mails. Keep them coming, because that way we know that you actually read them rather than simply clicking on the "delete" button. But don't mind if we don't respond to your individual e-mails. Just sit back and wait for them to be published in a subsequent issue.

C.N.A. E-Bulletin - Vol. 1 No. 3  -  February 10, 2005 We have heard of a few people clicking on the "Reply" button when they receive the C.N.A. E-Bulletin to respond. They got bounced back because we were not set up that way at the time, mainly due to the fact that we had not set up our new Website for that purpose.

C.N.A. E-Bulletin - Vol. 1 No. 2 February 1, 2005 Wow. Thanks for all the compliments. I realize that an inning does not a ballgame make, so we will have to try really hard to continue to earn your affection. And admiration?

CNA Auction Tops One Million Dollars This year’s Canadian Numismatic Association Auction set many records. The auction, which was held in Vancouver in conjunction with the annual CNA Convention, was conducted by Michael Walsh, the Canadian Coinoisseur and had total sales in excess of 1.1 million dollars. This sets the new Canadian record for prices realized in a numismatic auction, eclipsing the previous mark set in 1999 by Charles Moore with the Bank of Canada Archive Sale.

C.N.A. E-Bulletin Volume 2, Number 22 - August 25, 2006

C.N.A. Seminar Scheduled For February Torex. The winter edition of Torex, Canada’s most popular collectors’ show, will feature a seminar hosted by the Canadian Numismatic Association. With the theme of “Royal Canadian Mint Errors,” the presentations will feature two prominent speakers known for their involvement with the organized hobby of error collecting.

Rare Canadian coin collection nets almost $3 million US in New York auction NEW YORK (CP) - A rare Canadian coin once called the most valuable in the world by the Guinness Book of Records was sold for $690,000 US to a Calgary dealer at an auction here Monday night.

WANTED! Every new Canadian Coin News subscriber* will receive a FREE Silver Maple Leaf and every subscription renewal received for Canadian Coin News on or before November 30, 2001*, will be entered in our special draw to WIN a 2001 restrike of the famous 1911 Silver Dollar - The Rarest of All Canadian Numismatic items!

Canadian Coin Reference Site partners with Amazon.com Support the The Canadian Coin Reference Site! The CCRS now offers a variety of numismatic catalogues for sale which can be found by selecting "RESOURCES" from the drop down menu.

Ancient Coins part of the 2001 Torex® public auction sale MOORE NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS, INC. will offer a comprehensive collection of ancient coins as part of the June, 2001 TOREX® public auction sale. The collection, comprising 388 pieces, consists of bronze, silver and gold coins from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras, and was formed over a thirty year period between 1940 and 1970.

Canadian Paper Money Offers Much To The Beginning Collector

Coin Dealers Trust Them or Test Them? I frequently write about this topic because few collectors seem to comprehend the message. I'm hoping repetition leads to understanding.

Type Collecting vs. Complete Sets I’ve never cared much for building complete sets of coins. For me, the project is too predictable. What I like least is the necessity to often buy many common coins only for the sake of completing the set. I can’t seem to get enthused about spending money on a bunch of “hole fillers”

Value Doesn't Always Mean Money. Coin prices frequently make headlines in the hobby press. It's news when a coin auction brings $20 million or a single coin sells for more than it would cost to buy a luxurious home.

Do Varieties Really Matter? Up front, I'll say that I expect this article to generate response from those who don't share my opinion. My reason for exploring this topic is to suggest how important it is for every collector to thoroughly investigate any collecting opportunity before reaching for their wallet or credit card.

That Nasty Why Word Why do you own certain coins? Acknowledging the contents of your collection is entirely your business and you needn't justify it to anyone, I hope you can supply a quick response that satisfies you.

The Real "Wonder Coins" I once had the opportunity to examine a hoard of ancient coins fresh from the ground. From roughly woven hemp bags I extracted handfuls of coins. There were nearly 2000 pieces in all. Each of the coins was covered with a thick layer of what looked like crusty tan cement. The filth was so heavy that only the highest portion of the design was visible. The coins could be identified by type. That was about it.

Rare Canadian coins up for auction in U.S. NEW YORK - For the first time in history, one of virtually every set of valuable Canadian coins ever minted is being sold at the same time. Experts say the collection outshines the central bank's.

The Bluenose from the new Canadian Hologram Cameo Silver Coin Series Coin 1 of the Royal Canadian Mint New $20 dollars Sterling Silver and hologram Transportation Series celebrates the Bluenose,.the famous Canadian Fishing schooner built in 1921.

Set Registry Cautions Participating in any of the currently available Internet set registry programs costs nothing and offers lots of enjoyment at every level. That numismatists can now electronically display and share their coins with other enthusiasts brings a wonderful new dimension to the hobby. But before you get too excited about building a registry set please give some thought to these considerations...

Average Encountered Condition It's commonly suggested that collectors buy the finest quality they can afford. A practical alternative for the collector who wants to remain actively in the hunt is to compromise a bit and acquire examples of coins that are somewhat superior to what is normally available in the marketplace. It may be true that you never go wrong buying the best. I've also found you can't go too far astray when buying what is at least a little better than what most others have in their collection. My experience has been that it's possible to have lots of fun when collecting coins that are slightly nicer than the "AEC".

Simple Rules For Hobby Success

"Real" Toning or "Artificial"? For many years coin collectors have vigorously debated the definition of “natural” toning. In my opinion, natural toning is perhaps better described as “by chance” toning. Without intention, a coin is stored in such a way that it acquires coloration that some collectors find attractive.

Some Thoughts on Canadian NCLT After reviewing the history of coinage, one can site numerous examples to support the conclusion that non-circulating legal tender coins (NCLT) were first produced centuries ago and are hardly a modern invention. Even a superficial investigation of these early NCLT's will indicate that many of them have become highly desirable items among collectors. In the United States, serious coin collectors must have had mixed feelings when in 1915 the government allowed for the production of huge gold coins of the $50 denomination. These pieces were sold at a premium with the profits used to help defray the cost of an exposition. That only 1128 were sold suggests these NCLT issues weren't overly popular. Today, a nice example might bring well over a $100,000.

Building A Great Collection With No "Money" I've written hundreds of articles about coin collecting. This is one of the strangest.

Old Collectors You Take The Kids. Let Me Have The Old Folks.

The "World's Athletic Heroes" Canadian Olympic Coin Program What follows is the outline of a program that will accomplish many positive things for both Canada and all those involved in the Winter Olympic Games to be held in 2010. The creators of this program acknowledge that certain of their ideas and proposals may require revision to comply with various policies, regulations and laws. The purpose in producing this report is to provide a basic structure upon which the most successful Olympic Coin Program ever devised can be built and implemented.

Overnight Expert? I've written a number of articles stressing the importance of gaining knowledge by asking questions. Reading numismatic books is necessary, but not everyone who knows a great deal about coins, and has valuable information to share, has written one. Coin collectors are fortunate because enthusiasts and many dealers are quick to share their knowledge and experiences with others. Much of this important personalized communication can't be found in books.

Attending a Coin Show-Maximizing the Experience I have attended hundreds of coin shows. At these events I've had the opportunity to observe the activities of many dealers and collectors. Some who attend shows make the most of every available minute. Others seem to wander around lost. Here are a few tips you might use to make the most of your coin show experience.

Rarity vs. Fun I seriously doubt that most of us would spend as much on our hobby if we didn't expect to recoup a substantial portion of our investment. This seems especially true for those collectors who are willing to spend thousands of dollars to acquire a single coin. Unlike the new boat or motor home, our coins shouldn't drastically depreciate in value...

RCM Products--Can You Afford Them All? It wasn’t that long ago when a complete set of Royal Canadian Mint products produced in a single year could comfortably be held in two hands. Based on the list of products I’m now seeing offered I wonder if "one of everything" would fit in an oversize suitcase?

Really Using - Getting Extra Bang From The Buck It seems soon after coins were invented people understood that these little disks could be used as powerful advertising and marketing tools. Putting a king or queen's likeness on coins served to remind everyone about who was in charge and provided a face to put with the name. The peasants might have heard about Leopold the Hogmouth, but seeing him on a coin had to be special.

Recycling the News The most underutilized source for important and interesting numismatic information can be found in previous issues of publications like Canadian Coin News.

Seeing The Light & Grading I'm guessing most experts will agree that the light source used when grading coins can influence a coin's appearance.

Market Cycles For many years the experts and serious watchers have agreed the coin market moves in cycles.

Mintage -- The One Absolute? Many beginning coin collectors believe mintage figures are a sure way to determine which coins can be rated as common, scarce or rare. As it turns out, practices such as hoarding, melting, distribution methods and other assorted factors can result in situations where availability of certain coins is actually far greater or less so than the mintage would suggest. Things become even more complicated when reviewing availability in a particular grade or range of grades.

Mint State Logic & Circulated Coins Is it wiser to own the best of the circulated grades or the worst of the uncirculated? Coin buyers seem to place high value on newness. If your primary reason for acquiring coins is to profit from the experience then it is probably best to stick with tradition and go along with the notion that any new example of a particular coin is always better than all the used ones. This may not be the best policy to follow if your goal is to assemble an attractive and satisfying collection.

Modern Issues - Sorting Them Out As a dealer, it's in my best interest to anticipate how modern issues will perform in the aftermarket. Of the many coins produced, which will collectors be asking me for two, five or ten years down the road?

History, Human Nature and Coin Grading I happened to be around-in fact in close proximity, when coin dealers first began using numerical grading. There was nothing numismatic about the approach. The idea was to create a program to assist in the marketing of coins...

How it all got started. Perhaps the greatest stimulus to collect coins was the invention and mass distribution of the extremely popular Whitman Publishing Co coin albums. I believe these albums first appeared shortly after WWII. For the first time the average person could easily find and affordably purchase a handy little folder that prompted them to sort what was previously stored in an old purse, Piggy bank, or Mason jar. The albums instantly provided continuity and order to what had often been a random accumulation of coins. The accumulator became a collector with a purpose-fill all the inviting empty spaces in the album.

Dealing With The “Hyper Grades” Due to ignorance, lack of attention, and inexperience, I previously thought using numerical grades beyond MS or PR-67 was often extremely subjective and amounted to splitting hairs in an absurd attempt to decide how imperfect a nearly perfect coin might be.

Can A Coin's Condition Improve Over Time? Every now and then, I have the good fortune to hear someone make a really profound statement. So far, this one is on the top of the list for 2003. I had gotten together with a couple of other veteran coin dealers. Between the three of us we easily have 125 years of professional experience. The purpose of our meeting was to review a significant collection of coins that had just arrived from a grading service. After we all had examined the coins, Jim said, "You know, this coin wasn't nearly as nice when I sold it to Ed back in 1973."

Great Numismatists I have known Part III - Mr. Indian Cent "Is he ever going to run out of wind?" whispered the person who was sitting next to me at the coin club meeting. "After all, it’s only an Indian Cent!"

The Perils of Population Reports Long before the advent of grading services numismatists were keeping track of coin populations. Perhaps a decade ago, I wrote an article suggesting that grading service population reports were probably the most important commercially orientated numismatic references ever published. I will stick by this claim. The various reports showing grading service activity provide important information to those who understand the limitations of this data.

Kids and Coins Would you like your son or daughter, or another young person you know, to acquire any of the following skills or attributes? Improved reading ability, Neatness, Improved comprehension, The ability to set and reach goals, Organizational skills, Self-esteem, Self-confidence, The ability to establish priorities, Pride, Understanding the value of money, An interest in history and culture, Comprehending the importance of gaining specialized knowledge...

Unusual Holiday Gifts for Kids Because we understand the value of the hobby, we'd all like to see young people become interested in coin collecting. Based on my experience, some times the best results are obtained by being a little devious. This is the plan I would use with the seven to twelve year old group. My guess is the following shopping list can be filled for about the price of one of the latest and greatest video games.

Why Do Coins Cost So Much? I once had a customer explain that a certain dealer needed to charge more for their coins because they had high overhead costs. I found this statement to be bordering on the absurd. I think it's foolish to ever think the customer is responsible for supporting some dealer's lavish life style. No dealer deserves to profit simply because they are in business. That said, as coin consumers it's important to understand how the escalating cost of doing business directly impacts what we all are paying for coins.

Adventures With Coin Grading When I begin teaching a complete novice how to grade coins I start by stressing the importance of consistency. Consistency is the essence of grading no matter if what's being graded are hen's egg or Victoria half dollars. When collectors have concerns about their ability to grade coins the problem can usually be identified as inconsistency.

Dealers & Coin Prices The vast majority of coin dealers I know do not stash coins away waiting for higher prices to increase profits. Most active dealers are primarily interested in sales volume. For dealers, coins are a commodity to be bought and sold. Even though the parting may hurt a bit, few full time dealers can afford the luxury of falling in love with their inventory.

When The Dealer says, “I'll Pass.” There are many reasons why a dealer may decline to buy your coins. It's important to keep in mind most of these reasons probably have nothing to do with the coins or your asking price. What follows are some of the reasons.

In Praise of Dirty Coins Canadian collectors are fortunate because it is still quite possible to acquire coins that have not been altered since being saved by non-collectors. Let's see if I can explain what I mean by offering another example.

Numismatic Employment I'm often asked if I have a job available. This question usually is posed by someone who would like to turn their hobby into an occupation. It's an appropriate question as many dealers and others involved in the business began as coin collectors.

Canadian Exonumia It is my understanding that a great numismatist by the name of Russell Rulau is the person responsible for coining the term exonumia. Simply put, and these are my words not Mr. Rulau's, exonumia is a catch-all term used to describe items that might appeal to coin collectors but happen to be something other than coins.

My Favorite Canadian Coin Dealers can be fond of certain coins for many reasons. As a young collector/vest pocket dealer, I naively asked a veteran of the coin show wars, "What is your favorite coin?"

The Fourth Side of Every Coin Let’s see, we have the obverse, reverse and the edge. That’s only three. There is no "fourth side." What is this nonsense?

It's Fun Being An Expert Great satisfaction can be gained from being the “know-it-all” even if this knowledge is confined to a very specific topic.

Do Grading Service Employees Read Pop Reports? I'm not the only person who thinks it might be a good idea if grading service employees knew nothing about the numismatic marketplace. It's wrong to think a highly skilled coin grader will do a better job if they know how valuable what they are grading may be to collectors. In fact, it would seem any responsible grading service would expect their graders to apply the same degree of diligence and care to every coin they grade. Only giving a glance to the common stuff but really studying the rarities can't be the proper thing to do-or is it?

Green Coins & Puppies I purchased a nice collection of ancient Roman coins and offered them as single items in my price list. The first person to call bought seven of the twelve. The buyer just happened to be the person who sold me the collection!

The Perils of Population Reports Long before the advent of grading services numismatists were keeping track of coin populations. Perhaps a decade ago, I wrote an article suggesting that grading service population reports were probably the most important commercially orientated numismatic references ever published. I will stick by this claim. The various reports showing grading service activity provide important information to those who understand the limitations of this data.

Numismatic Autograph Collecting - Getting More From Your Hobby I like to encourage coin collectors to find enjoyable ways to expand the focus of their hobby. There are countless ways to explore numismatics that go far beyond making the current purchase and thinking about the next one. If your activity is limited to the commercial aspects of our hobby then you are missing the majority of what the pursuit has to offer. That said, let me provide an example of what I think would be an interesting and rewarding project that would probably cost a fraction of what you'd gladly pay for the next RCM product.

A New Twist To An Old Idea Certain British coins produced during the reign of Victoria carry a Die Number. This clever feature identifies from which reverse die a coin was made.

Guaranteed Success Buying on the Net The Internet has changed some of the ways collectors do business. What the Internet hasn’t done is alter the important basic rules that every buyer and seller should understand and heed.

Coin Conservation--Putting the Arms Back on Venus? I'm all for making coins look better. After having dipped the surfaces of thousands of coins I'd be lying to say otherwise. Apparently we've entered a new era where sophisticated methods are being used to improve the appearance of coins. With this in mind, now may be a good time to review the entire topic of coin enhancement and where we might be headed.

Writing Coin Descriptions That Sell Coins - Part I With more and more people trying their hand at selling coins it might be a good time to review how creating good coin descriptions can dramatically increase your sales and keep your customers happy. If you read on you may find I've included some less than obvious suggestions.

Writing Coin Descriptions That Sell Coins - Part 2 With more and more people trying their hand at selling coins it might be a good time to review how creating good coin descriptions can dramatically increase your sales and keep your customers happy. If you read on you may find I've included some less than obvious suggestions.

Learn About Coins Without Leaving CCRS How does one begin to learn about coins and coin collecting? In this Instant Information Age, shouldn’t it be simple and done in five steps or less? In one evening, my brother-in-law found out how, with a single call to a 900 number, to make millions in the stock market. Can I learn all I need to know about coins in an hour?

Collecting Small Cents - A Personal Recollection During the late 50’s and early 60’s (1900 not 1800!) I was an enthusiastic young coin collector living in southeastern Michigan. At a coin show in St. Clair Shores, a dealer from Sarnia, Ontario noticed me walking around looking lost and called me over to his table. "Want to see something special?" he asked. "Look at this."

Appearance & Grade It isn’t necessary to possess numismatic knowledge to properly grade coins. Coin grading is a specialized activity quite like many other forms of quality control. Just as someone who inspects circuit boards may know nothing about computers, it is entirely possible for a highly skilled coin grader to be uninformed about the value or numismatic significance of the coins they are grading. Grading coins has nothing to do with numismatics.

Collections Within Collections I regularly remind numismatists that each coin in their collection should represent a significant purchase and stand on its own merit. Few coins ever become more important based on the company they keep. If you must accomplish completeness by filling openings in an album, leave insignificant purchases until the end and seriously contemplate their importance before paying good money to get them.

Auction Pooling I enjoy writing about consumer related numismatic topics that are seldom openly discussed. I'm fairly sure what follows fits that category...

Analyzing Auction Results What are we to think when a coin that has a Trends value of $750 sells at auction for $1750?

Colonial tokens a fascinating period in Canadian history The fourth edition of the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Colonial Tokens has just been released. This reference and pricing catalogue sells for $24.95 and is published by the Charlton Press (2010 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4S 1Z9). The editor is William K. Cross. While Charlton coin catalogues have included pre-Confederation token listings in the past (last issue was in 1977), the current token format was introduced in 1988 as a standalone token catalogue (first edition). This was followed by the second and third editions in 1990 and 1995 respectively.

Practical Coin Grading Tips Of all the areas of study in Canadian numismatics, that of coin grading is clearly the most disruptive and confusing. Why? Well, perhaps it's because it's usually part of a buy or sell transaction with money involved. Perhaps, it's because it is a subjective matter and not quite as crisply defined as it should be. Whatever the reason behind it, it does create confusion and often very bitter arguments. Just attend any coin show for evidence of the latter. Much of this is a result of poor preparation on the grader's part and sometimes sloppiness in thinking. What follows are some comments on four areas: objectivity, grading practice, coins with borderline grades, and how to simply look at a coin. Understanding coin grade definitions in another matter totally. The concern is more to do with approach and mental attitude. Both are critical elements needed of any grader intending to do a good job.

What You Really Get From A Grading Service Prior to the proliferation of third party grading services, I knew of a dealer who added to his marketing strategy by guaranteeing to buy back any coin he sold at exactly the same grade he used when selling it. As long as the coin remained sealed in it's original holder, what he sold as a MS-65 would be a MS-65 when the investor wished to sell it-and there was no time limit on this guarantee.

Mostly Brown or Somewhat Red? The color of a copper or bronze coin often has a major influence on it’s value. For this reason, most grading services incorporate the color of the coin when grading uncirculated examples. The popular designations are Brown, Red and Brown and Red. I can comprehend brown and red. It’s dealing with the combination of these colors that raises some questions for me. Perhaps you can provide some answers? Worst case, we can maybe have fun trying to figure it all out.

New Mint release falls short. Why is a palm tree the focal point of the design on this year's commemorative silver dollar? Why does the Queen's portrait look like a bad editorial cartoon? Why won't the mint name the artist who gets the credit or the blame for creating the new coin? Any why is the Royal Canadian Mint trying to distance Canada from our British heritage?

Sovereign design revived for Queen's golden jubilee Britain's 2002 gold sovereign honours the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth's reign by reviving a modern version of a coin design last seen on sovereigns struck for the same anniversary of Queen Victoria in 1887. Instead of the renowned Benedetto Pistrucci engraving of St. George and the Dragon, the reverse of the 2002 gold sovereign carries the royal coat of arms for only second time in 115 years. The only previous occasion was for the 500th anniversary of the sovereign coin in 1989.

Honouring the 1911 Canadian Silver Dollar No Canadian coin has been the subject of more publicity, myths, rumours, legends and inaccuracies than the famous 1911 silver dollar. In honour of the 90th anniversary of its creation, the Royal Canadian Mint has minted a new silver dollar carrying the design of the original coin but with the dates 1911-2001.

'Mona Lisa of baseball cards' goes on the block Honus Wagner is not as renowned as Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, but his image graces the most valuable card in baseball, which is expected to sell for as much as $1-million when it is auctioned off next month. The 1909 baseball card, once owned by Wayne Gretzky and later auctioned as a lucrative prize in a Wal-Mart draw, is being unveiled in New York today as part of a one-month publicity blitz aimed at increasing interest over the card's sale.

Restrikes of Canadian $5 and $10 sold out!!! The Royal Canadian Mint is set to release restrikes of the country's 1912 $5 and $10 gold coins to mark the 90th anniversary of their first minting.

Let Canadian redesign our penny Why were two of Canada's most popular circulating coins designed by a British citizen who never set foot in this country? Why does Canada continue to strike billions and billions of coins with the artwork of someone who couldn't accurately draw a maple twig and who saw Canadian beavers only in picture books?

Coins Last month's Coins column suggested that it was time to replace the designs on our 1-cent and 5-cent coins with art work created by a Canadian instead of the British designer who actually created them. The headline on the column was "Let Canadian redesign our penny."

J.E. Charlton - Coinman to Canadians. No person better deserves the honour of being called the dean of Canadian coin collectors than James E. (Jim) Charlton. In celebration of his 90th birthday last month, the Charlton Press (which has been owned by coin dealer and publisher William K. Cross for many years) has published a biography entitled J.E. Charlton - Coinman to Canadians.

New Bullwinkle quarter shows coins can be fun In honour of Canada Day, the Royal Canadian Mint has produced a stylized 25-cent coin showing a caricature of a moose set against a mountain range.

Keep Track of your Coins Imagine throwing out a pair of old shoes and not realizing that they contained a rare coin worth more than $225,000 Canadian. That's exactly what happened to the retired owner of several manufacturing and metals companies in Florida.

Canadian Columnist Retires Coins & Stamps Pen Toronto Star Coins columnist Bob Aaron has announced his retirement from writing the newspaper's coins and stamps columns after an uninterrupted run of more than 36 years and more than 1,400 columns and 1 million words.

Collecting is Good Downtown Stamp and Coin Sales Limited has expanded to the Hudson's Bay Company's flagship Vancouver store.

Are You a Believer? A person with a coin to sell asked, "Why is it only worth $300 when the book says the value might be $20,000 or more?"

New 50-cent coins are for the birds Canada's 50-cent coins never appear in circulation, but they are always a popular collector's item. This year's sterling silver 50-cent pieces feature four new coins based on the theme Canada's Birds of Prey.

'Invisible' 25-cent coins are Celebrations of millennium The Royal Canadian Mint pushes ahead with its series of invisible 25-cent coins marking the millennium.

Aussies honour their monarchs In a superb tribute to the coins of the 20th century, Australia has released a set of five coins featuring the portraits of the five monarchs who have reigned over Australia since the dawn of the last century.

Rare U.S. gold coin fetches $6.6-million New York -- The so-called Mona Lisa of gold coins was sold for a record $6.6-million (U.S.) last night.

ROYAL CANADIAN MINT HONOURS DESIGNER OF THE 2000 MILLENNIUM MEDALLION - THE MAPLE LEAF FOREVER The Royal Canadian Mint honoured Maurice Bissonnette of Chapeau, Québec for his design "The Maple Leaf Forever"

The October, 2002 - Torex® Auction The October, 2002 - Torex® Auction will feature Part Two of the Douglas L Mason Collection of Canadian and Maritime Decimal Coins, "the finest Canadian business strike collection ever assembled" and will be conducted simultaneously live and online.

CCRS 2007 Patrons Drive!