A coveted 1966 Small Beads silver dollar, high-grade pre-Confederation tokens and an unusual gold fantasy depicting what Canadian coinage might have looked like under Edward VIII are among the highlights of Heritage Auctions’ latest Canada-focused sale.
Heritage’s Spotlight: Canada Showcase Auction closes Sept. 30, offering collectors a broad selection of Canadian numismatic material. The sale includes colonial and provincial tokens, Canadian gold and silver, key dates and varieties, and modern Maple Leaf issues.
Among the standout pieces is a 1966 Small Beads silver dollar graded Proof-Like 65 by PCGS. From the John Lewis Powell Collection, the coin is one of two examples of the sought-after Small Beads variety included in the auction.
With a reported mintage of only 485 pieces, the 1966 Small Beads dollar has long been one of the most eagerly pursued varieties in the Elizabeth II silver dollar series. Heritage Canada consultant Andrew Winger selected the PL-65 example as one of five lots from the sale to highlight for Canadian Coin News.
Winger’s other selections span nearly a century of Canadian numismatic history. They include an 1856 Nova Scotia “Mayflower” penny with an important pedigree, an 1839 Bank of Montreal “Side View” halfpenny token and a colourful 1904 Edward VII 25-cent piece. Perhaps the most unusual is a 1936-dated Edward VIII gold Proof fantasy crown offering a glimpse of what Canadian coinage might have looked like had Edward remained on the throne.
In the latest issue of Canadian Coin News (Vol 61N14), Winger takes readers inside all five selections, explaining what caught his eye and why each deserves attention as the Sept. 30 auction approaches. Bidding is already underway in Heritage’s Spotlight: Canada Showcase Auction.