London Coin Centre Inc. of London, Ont., will kick off 2026 with a major three-day auction featuring a broad cross-section of Canadian and world material, ranging from historic European gold to modern Royal Canadian Mint issues.
Online bidding is now under way, with the sale scheduled to run live from Jan. 9–11, offering more than 2,500 lots across multiple collecting categories.
World gold is a focal point of the auction, with highlights spanning several centuries. Among them is a Spanish gold castellano of Henry IV, struck at the Seville Mint during his 1454–74 reign, along with a French gold écu d’or à la couronne of Charles VI. Another standout is a Poland gold three rouble = 20 złotych dated 1836/5, struck over an earlier date and offered alongside other international gold issues, including a 1979 Dominican Republic 100 pesos commemorating Pope John Paul II’s visit.
The opening session on Jan. 9 is devoted entirely to Canadian exonumia and tokens, with more than 900 lots crossing the block. Highlights include early Ontario trade and advertising tokens, such as a Berlin, Ont., aluminum exhibition token from 1905, a scarce J.D. McBride “50 Cts Trade” token from Middlesex County, and a Port Stanley 5-cent trade token issued by G.E. MacKie. Canadian militaria also features prominently, led by an 1885 North West Canada Medal named to a private of the Queen’s Own Rifles.
Day two, on Jan. 10, turns to world coins and banknotes, with another 900-plus lots. Among the offerings are a 1971 Iranian nine-coin gold set issued to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire, and a 1743 Russian silver rouble struck at the Moscow Mint during the reign of Empress Elizabeth. The final session on Jan. 11 brings together U.S. coins, Canadian coins and banknotes, Royal Canadian Mint products and additional militaria, including a 1991 $20 experimental polymer banknote perforated “SPECIMEN” and a 2023 $50 Allegory of Peace silver coin with a three-dimensional, gold-plated figure.
According to London Coin Centre’s Tomasz Machaj, the January auction reflects the diversity of today’s market. “This sale brings together strong Canadian exonumia, important world gold and a wide range of material that appeals to both seasoned collectors and newer bidders,” he said. Bidders can participate in Canadian dollars or euros, selectable through the online catalogue. Founded more than 50 years ago as a retail numismatic firm, London Coin Centre continues to expand its auction presence, with plans to hold at least three auctions in 2026.
Note: A full preview of the London Coin Centre January auction will appear in the next issue of Canadian Coin News (V63N21), to be released Dec. 22.