Author Archives: Jim Szeplaki

A forward-looking plan for Canadian numismatics

Newly elected RCNA president Jacques Poitras presents outgoing president Bill O’Brien with the RCNA Past President’s Award during the association’s Awards Banquet at the Calgary convention in July. (Photo by Henry Nienhuis)

The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association’s new president, Jacques Poitras, is stepping into the role as the organization marks its 75th anniversary, promising to blend four decades of collecting with a businesslike, forward-looking approach. The Edmundston, N.B., collector becomes the RCNA’s 35th president and brings eight years of board experience plus a long résumé of service... Continue reading →

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Historic rarities take centre stage in TCNC’s Prominence XIII auction

An 1838 Province of Nova Scotia £1 Treasury Note, fully signed by J. Foreman, William Lawson and Charles Wallace, is believed to be a new discovery and possibly unique. Graded Choice Very Fine-25 by Legacy, the note is among the rarest and most significant early Canadian banknotes ever offered at auction.

The latest issue of Canadian Coin News shines a spotlight on The Canadian Numismatic Company’s (TCNC) much-anticipated Prominence XIII Auction, which promises to deliver one of the most extraordinary offerings in recent Canadian numismatic history. Running from Nov. 13–19, the multi-session sale features more than 3,000 lots of rare coins, tokens, and banknotes, including several... Continue reading →

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Nixon’s shock and Canada’s money

U.S. President Richard Nixon’s television address in August 1971, announcing the end of dollar-gold convertibility, fundamentally transformed the global monetary system and hit Canada’s economy with unexpected force.

When U.S. President Richard Nixon stunned the world by cutting the dollar’s link to gold, it sent economic shock waves across every major economy. For Canada, the “Nixon Shock” marked both a turning point and a test, as the federal government’s earlier decision to let the Canadian dollar float suddenly positioned the country as a... Continue reading →

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Debut auction set for Oct. 18

A 1973 Canada 25-cent Large Bust, graded ICCS MS-66 and estimated at $6,000-$7,000, appears as Lot 123 and is considered the highlight of St. George Auctions’ inaugural sale.

St. George Auctions will hold its debut sale on Oct. 18, offering more than 300 lots of Canadian coinage. Five rarities headline the event, giving collectors a sense of the quality and focus the new firm hopes to bring to the market. Continue reading →

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A landmark auction event: unveiling the Graham Collection

A Canadian Bank of Commerce $5 note dated 1892 with a rare Yukon overprint, offered as Lot 582, is one of Canada’s most storied chartered banknote rarities.

Canadian numismatics is about to witness something truly extraordinary. This October, Geoffrey Bell Auctions will unveil the Robert (Bob) Graham Collection, a breathtaking assemblage of chartered banknotes and rarities that collectors have only dreamed of seeing offered in a sale. For those who chase history, rarity, and pedigree, this is the moment. Continue reading →

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Coin searchers roll up support for education

Michael Turrini (left) presents Alexander Chamberlain with a President’s Award from the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association in 2022. Both California numismatists are fixtures of the Canadian numismatic scene, regularly making donations to the Canadian Association For Numismatic Education.

A familiar group of California collectors once again made its mark at this year’s Royal Canadian Numismatic Association Convention in Calgary, blending ingenuity with generosity to raise funds for Canadian numismatic education. Continue reading →

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Paul Fiocca Award presented to long-time researcher and writer

William Weychison, left, chair of the RCNA Awards Committee, presents the 2025 Paul Fiocca Award to Stanley H. Clute at the RCNA Convention in Calgary. (Photo by Henry Nienhuis)

A pillar of Canadian numismatics has received the RCNA’s highest distinction. In Calgary on July 19, the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association presented the Paul Fiocca Award to long-time researcher, writer, and past RCNA president Stanley H. Clute, recognizing more than half a century of leadership, scholarship, and service. Continue reading →

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Lorne Barnes recognized for numismatic research

Scott E. Douglas, left, chair of the J. Douglas Ferguson Board of Award, presents the 2025 Ferguson Award medal and certificate to recipient Lorne Barnes during the RCNA Convention’s annual Awards Banquet. (Photo by Henry Nienhuis)

Lorne Barnes, a tireless researcher, editor, and author, has received the 2025 J. Douglas Ferguson Award – Canadian numismatics’ most prestigious honour. The award was presented at the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) Convention’s annual Awards Banquet, where Scott E. Douglas, chair of the Board of Award, called it “the highlight of every RCNA Convention.”... Continue reading →

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Calgary hosts milestone RCNA Convention with record turnout

The RCNA Convention opened with one of the most enthusiastic and memorable ceremonies in recent years, as dignitaries were proudly “white hatted” by volunteer members of the Calgary Whitting Hatting team — a cherished local tradition celebrating western hospitality. From the left are esteemed numismatist Clifford Mishler (slightly obscured), American Numismatic Association President Thomas Uram, Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Marie Lemay, and RCNA President Bill O’Brien, all beaming with their white cowboy hats. (Photo by Mike Walsh)

Collectors from across Canada and beyond converged in Calgary from July 15–19 for the 2025 Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) Convention—an extraordinary event that celebrated the 75th anniversaries of both the RCNA and its host, the Calgary Numismatic Society (CNS). Continue reading →

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Brutal new toonie fake spotted by expert

Earlier this year, collectors in Ontario found a previously unknown fake $2 coin since dubbed the ‘Nunavut’ counterfeit.

One of the worst counterfeit coins he’s ever seen – that’s how award-winning researcher Mike Marshall describes a new 1999-dated $2 “Nunavut” fake that surfaced in Ontario earlier this year. Despite its crude appearance, Marshall believes the counterfeit was intentionally created to deceive unsuspecting Canadians at the cash register. Continue reading →

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