Geoffrey Bell Auctions will return to the Toronto Coin Expo this spring with a multi-session sale featuring a wide range of Canadian material, led by a significant offering from the late Harry James of St. Thomas, Ont.
Widely regarded as one of Canada’s foremost authorities on tokens, James built a reputation over decades as a prolific researcher, author and speaker. His work documenting Canadian merchant tokens and trade pieces helped shape the field, earning him numerous honours, including the prestigious J. Douglas Ferguson Award in 2006. A longtime friend of the Bell family, his collection reflects both scholarly depth and a careful, disciplined approach to collecting.
Auctioneer Brian Bell said the offering reflects the passion and dedication behind James’s collecting.
“There was a lot of his heart in that collection,” Bell said.
The selection of pre-Confederation tokens in this sale offers a strong cross-section of James’s interests and expertise. Among the highlights is Lot 1278, a Northwest Company fur trade token, catalogued as Breton 925 (CH FT-9B). Struck in brass and holed, the example shows environmental damage and is graded about Good details, yet remains a tangible link to Canada’s early fur trade economy. It is estimated at $1,200 to $1,500.
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Also featured is Lot 1293, a Bouquet Sous mule known as the “Harry N. James Mule,” catalogued as Breton 714 (CH-LC-3A6). The token combines the obverse of Breton 714 with the reverse of Breton 713 and weighs 7.75 grams. Graded Fine Plus, the piece was the subject of James’s own research published in Numismatica Canada in 2009. It is expected to realize $1,000 to $1,500.
Further highlights include Lot 1310, a Commercial Change Large Bust token, Breton 1007 (CH-LC-59A), certified ICCS VF-30 and estimated at $4,500 to $6,500. Rounding out the group is Lot 1319, an 1858 Sailing Ship design token, Breton 954 (CH-NF-3A1), Open 5 variety, graded ICCS EF-40, with an estimate of $5,000 to $6,000.
Together, the offering reflects decades of study and careful acquisition, with each piece contributing to a broader understanding of Canada’s early token and trade history.
The sale also includes additional consignments of Canadian and world numismatic material, along with the continued offering of items from the Robert Graham Collection, one of the most important holdings of Canadian paper money ever assembled.
Among the paper money highlights is Lot 499, an 1867 $1 note from the Canadian Bank of Commerce (CH 75-10-02), graded Legacy Fine 15 and bearing serial number 06821/A. With only five examples believed available to collectors, the note represents a key Confederation-era rarity and is expected to realize $7,000 to $8,500.
Also of note is Lot 522, an 1837 $3 note from the Commercial Bank of Fort Erie (CH 160-10-06), graded Legacy Very Fine 25 with small holes and carrying serial number 2475/A. The piece offers a scarce pre-Confederation denomination from a short-lived institution and is estimated at $2,000 to $2,500.
Lot 436 offers a rare original bundle of 100 Bank of Canada $2 notes from the 1937 issue (BC-22c), still intact with 1954 date stamps from Hull and Plaisance, Que.
A particularly unusual offering is Lot 436, an original wrapped bundle of 100 Bank of Canada $2 notes from the 1937 issue (BC-22c). While the bundle shows some handling, it remains intact and features date stamps from Aug. 18, 1954, in Hull, Que., and Aug. 20, 1954, in Plaisance, P.Q., providing a rare glimpse into mid-century circulation practices. The lot is expected to bring $30,000 to $40,000.
Another key highlight is Lot 447, a 1954 $5 “Devil’s Face” replacement note (BC-31bA), graded Legacy Gem New 65PPQ with replacement prefix *A/C and serial number 0004344. The combination of replacement status and high grade places this note among the more desirable modern issues, with an estimate of $20,000 to $25,000.
Rounding out the featured banknotes is Lot 482, an 1872 $20 note from the Bank of Acadia (CH 5-10-08), graded Legacy Very Good 8 with tape repair and edge tears. With only five examples recorded and just three believed available to collectors, the note’s rarity is expected to drive strong interest, with an estimate of $17,500 to $20,000.
Another key component of the sale is Session II, which features the first offering of the late Geoffrey Bell medal collection, as reported previously in greater detail in Canadian Coin News, Vol. 64, No. 3 (May 5 to May 18, 2026).
The Spring Sale opened with an online-only Warmup Auction on Tuesday, April 28, followed by two live sessions on April 30 and May 1 at the Toronto Coin Expo, each beginning at 5:30 p.m. Collectors will have the opportunity to view lots in person at the Toronto Reference Library from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days.