WINNIPEG, Man. – A coveted 1921 50-cent piece, widely known as the “King of Canadian Coins,” led bidding during Friday evening’s second session of The Canadian Numismatic Company’s official 2026 Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Convention auction, realizing $143,400, including the buyer’s premium.
The ICCS AU-50 example, offered as Lot 744, drew strong competition from bidders before topping the evening’s Canadian coin offerings. One of the hobby’s most celebrated key dates, the 1921 half dollar is prized because most of the original mintage was melted after production, leaving only a small number of survivors available to collectors. The example offered featured attractive natural toning over remaining mint lustre.
Another of the session’s marquee lots, an 1870 “No LCW” 50-cent piece certified PCGS MS-63, went unsold. Offered as Lot 710, the famous Victorian rarity is missing the engraver’s initials normally found beneath Queen Victoria’s portrait. The specimen is the only example graded MS-63 by PCGS, with just one finer example recorded by the grading service.
Other notable Canadian coins also attracted solid bidding throughout the evening.
A 1948 silver dollar graded ICCS MS-65 realized $15,535, including the buyer’s premium. The sought-after key-date dollar was offered as Lot 823.
Among the large cents, an 1858 example certified ICCS MS-64 Red sold for $4,481 as Lot 464.
Modern Canadian coinage also generated interest. Lot 411, a rare 2000-P Community 25-cent coin graded ICCS MS-63, realized $11,950. The coin is one of only five certified examples cited by TCNC.
The second session followed Thursday evening’s opening session, highlighted by the sale of an 1870 Hudson’s Bay Company promissory note issued at Fort Garry, which realized $11,950, and a rare 1935 Bank of Canada $500 note that sold for $5,676, both including the buyer’s premium.
The three-day auction concludes Sunday with its final session, featuring additional Canadian and world numismatic material as part of the official auction of the 2026 Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Convention in Winnipeg.