A 1921 50-cent coin – known affectionally as the “King of Canadian Coins” – will hit the auction block this September, and it’s expected to bring upwards of $65,000. Described by auctioneers as “Canada’s most desired coin,” this 96-year-old example will be offered as Lot 709 of the upcoming sale hosted by New Brunswick’s Geoffrey Bell Auctions. With a grade of International Coin Certification Service (ICCS) Very Good-8, this lot is described by auctioneers as a “strong example” and one of only 75 believed to have survived the original mintage of 206,398. “This circulated example is perfect for the collector who has dreamed of owning a problem-free coin,” said auctioneer Brian Bell, who’s also the owner of The Coin Cabinet in Moncton, N.B. This example is only one of nearly 1,600 lots to be offered via floor and Internet bidding on Sept. 28-29 in conjunction with the biannual Toronto Coin Expo, which is held at the Toronto Reference Library on 789 Yonge St. Other highlights include the final offering of both the Richard Cooper Collection as well as the Covered Bridge Collection, the latter of which will see “fresh rarities that are coming out of storage for the first time in numerous years.” Trophy notes from many chartered banks – complemented by a Choice Uncirculated French 1935 Series $50 note – will also garner a “frenzy of bidding,” Bell said. Continue reading →