By Jeff Fournier
Summer is quickly approaching and it’s at this time every year that we all begin to dream about our summer vacations. Why not blend your annual vacation with numismatics?
There are a number of coin shows that you might want to take in this summer, including the Brantford Coin Show on June 12 at the Branlyn Community Centre in Brantford, Ont.; Torex, which is being held June 25-26 at the Hyatt Regency in Toronto; the South Western Ontario Numismatics Coin and Collectables Show (SWON), which will be held at the Paris Fairgrounds in Paris, Ont. on Aug. 14; and of course, one of the highlights of the entire year, the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) convention.
This year’s national show and convention is being hosted by the Ottawa Numismatic Society (formerly the Ottawa Coin Club) and will be held at the Delta Ottawa City Centre from July 19-24. It’s six days of non-stop numismatic fun that will feature tours of the Royal Canadian Mint, a top-notch bourse with dealers from across Canada, educational presentations, an auction by Geoffrey Bell Auctions, club meetings galore and much, much more.
Visit the RCNA website at rcna.ca/2016 for more information.
You can be sure not to miss any of these shows by visiting CCN’s website for shows in your area or beyond. You can find the Canadian Coin News event listings at canadiancoinnews.com/events.
CCN has also released a handy printed version of their combined coin and stamp show calendars. “The Canadian Coin & Stamp Show Planner 2016” is a compact reference that you might want to keep in your glove compartment when you’re on the road this summer.
As with CCN’s website, the guide includes coin and stamp shows taking place across Canada and in the U.S. as well, so if you are going south of the border this summer, you might want to take in some of these cross-border shows.
Imagine attending a coin show with more than 225 dealer booths. Well, that’s exactly what you’ll be able to do if you are in Florida from July 7 to 9. The 10th Annual Summer Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Show, which features this massive bourse, is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
NUMISMATIC DESTINATIONS
But why stop at coin shows? There are numerous other numismatically related activities and sights to see as you explore the countryside during your vacation.
Why not stop by and get a photo under the Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ont., if you’re in that area? While there, at Dynamic Earth (home of the Big Nickel as well as an immersive, hands-on science centre that features earth science and mining experiences), you can view a mineral wall along with one of the largest collections of nickel coinage anywhere in the world.
If you’ve read any of my articles in CCN about some of Canada’s other giant coins, you might be interested in paying them a visit: the giant “loonie” in Echo Bay, Ont., just east of Sault Ste. Marie; the humongous gold coin in Virginiatown, Ont.; or the larger-than-life “toonie” in Campbellford, Ont. (just a hop, skip, and jump from Toronto).
Be sure to check out local visitor centres or local chambers of commerce while you travel to see if any of the communities you’re visiting have any souvenir “coins” for sale. Just ask and you might be surprised to find that they do!
I hope you all enjoy planning for your numismatic vacation this summer … here’s wishing you a fun and safe journey!