Local charities will benefit from the Cambridge Coin Show this weekend, when more than 50 dealer tables will offer coins, notes, tokens, bullion, supplies and militaria to local collectors.
The free show, which runs between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. this Saturday, is important because it allows local collectors to attend a show close to home, said Robb McPherson, president of the Ontario Numismatic Association and organizer of the Cambridge show.
“It’s a one-day local show, so it gives more of an opportunity for local collectors to come out because not all collectors can make it out to the big shows,” said McPherson, adding the show also offers different kinds of dealers who similarly might not be able to work larger shows.
In lieu of free admission, the show’s organizers collect donations for the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank.
“Last year, about $400 was donated to two different charities besides the food bank,” he said. “It’s important because you’re giving back to the community. We also take cash donations, some of which go to the food bank, while other proceeds from things like dealers’ fees are taken and donated to a couple different charities.”
McPherson said the Waterloo Coin Society (WCS), organizers of the 24th annual Cambridge Coin Show, will offer discount memberships at this Saturday’s show.
“We’re giving $5 off the regular $15 membership. We had probably close to 20 people sign up last year,” he said, adding the WCS already has more than 100 members, more than half of which regularly attend club meetings.
He also said one of the dealers, Londinium Coins, will be paying the membership fees for any junior members who sign up for the WCS on Saturday.
The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association’s National Youth Co-ordinator Lisa McPherson (Robb’s wife) will also be at this year’s show, handing out various collectables to juniors.
McPherson said there’s a bit of history behind the annual show, which was organized by the Cambridge Coin Club (CCC) until it folded last year, when the WCS was handed the reigns.
“When the club decided to fold, they asked the Waterloo Coin Society, being the next regional club for the area, if they would like to take over the show because they were closing down. Our club executives decided they would be more than happy to take on that task.”
The 24th annual Cambridge Coin Show is being held at the Cambridge Newfoundland Club at 1500 Dunbar Road in Cambridge, Ont. For details and directions, click here.