Author Archives: Jim Szeplaki

A newly discovered 1890 Molsons Bank $5 note, described as an extraordinary Canadian chartered banknote rarity, headlines The Canadian Numismatic Company's (TCNC) upcoming Prominence XV sale. The three-day auction, scheduled for Nov. 13-15, is featured in the latest issue of Canadian Coin News (Vol. 61, No. 17). The Quebec-based auction house will offer 1,009 lots... Continue reading →

An unopened Royal Canadian Mint wooden box containing 100 Proof-Like sets from 1961 and a newly issued Samoan banknote caught the attention of collectors at the inaugural Welland Coin Show. Both are featured in the latest issue of Canadian Coin News (Vol. 64, No. 16), released Oct. 13, 2026. Longtime collector Jerry Lemick brought an... Continue reading →

A medal commemorating the British conquest of Montreal, two major Bank of Hamilton notes and unusual Royal Canadian Mint test tokens are among the highlights of Geoffrey Bell Auctions’ fall sale. The 690-lot auction will be held Oct. 23 in conjunction with the Toronto Coin Expo at the Toronto Reference Library. The sale brings together... Continue reading →

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... Continue reading →

A seldom-seen 1966 Small Beads silver dollar leads an impressive lineup of Canadian decimal rarities featured in the latest issue of Canadian Coin News, released Sept. 1. The coin is one of the marquee offerings in Colonial Acres’ three-day Fall Premier Numismatic Auction, set for Sept. 25-27. The firm’s 161st auction features more than 1,800... Continue reading →

A high-grade 1936 Canadian 50-cent piece with a pedigree tracing to the renowned Victoria Collection will headline St. George Auctions’ 311-lot fall sale, set for Sept. 12 during the National Postage Stamp & Coin Show in Mississauga, Ont. Graded PCGS MS-64, the George V half dollar combines strong lustre, an above-average strike and an important... Continue reading →

One of Canada's respected numismatic researchers, authors and editors has received the nation's highest honour in numismatics. Barrie Renwick, 93, was presented with the 2026 J. Douglas Ferguson Award during the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association's annual convention in Winnipeg. Continue reading →

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way collectors research, organize and write about numismatics, offering new opportunities to speed up everything from auction catalogue preparation to historical investigations. But as the technology becomes more widely adopted, experts say it must be used responsibly and never as a substitute for careful scholarship. Continue reading →

Every year, hundreds of medals, trade notes, wooden tokens, souvenir notes and other numismatic collectibles are issued across Canada. Many are produced in small quantities, quickly disappearing into private collections before anyone records their existence. Continue reading →

A remarkable piece of Western Canadian history headlines the latest issue of Canadian Coin News as an 1870 Hudson’s Bay Company promissory note issued at Fort Garry takes centre stage in The Canadian Numismatic Company’s official 2026 RCNA Convention auction in Winnipeg. Bearing a May 1870 Fort Garry transit handstamp, the note offers a tangible... Continue reading →