Author Archives: Jim Szeplaki

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

Three rare Saskatchewan banknotes – each issued on the very day the Weyburn Security Bank opened in 1911 – have made their way back home in a remarkable story of local heritage, private collecting, and institutional pride. The $5, $10, and $20 notes, once lost to history, are now reunited with their original parent company... Continue reading →

A recent investigation into counterfeit toonies has revealed a troubling influx of fakes into Canada’s coinage system. In this second instalment of Jesse Robitaille’s series, numismatist Mike Marshall sheds light on a shipment of 10,000 counterfeit $2 coins intercepted by border officers in Québec – a discovery that may just be the tip of the... Continue reading →

After nearly three decades, collector and researcher Brian Thomson has released a bold new edition of his landmark reference book, 1967 Canadian Centennial Medallions — and it’s already being hailed as a modern classic in Canadian numismatics. With more than 1,000 medals catalogued across 341 pages, this full-colour, large-format volume is the most comprehensive work... Continue reading →

The University of Calgary’s Nickle Galleries will once again host a premier gathering of numismatic minds as the Third Annual Numismatics Symposium: Money, Art and More returns May 24–25, 2025.  Held in partnership with the Calgary Numismatic Society, the two-day event will bring together scholars, collectors, and artists to explore the cultural, historical, and artistic... Continue reading →