Author Archives: Jim Szeplaki

Long-time researcher and writer Stanley Clute marked 50 years with CCN this October in an unprecedented feat of longevity for Canada’s national numismatic magazine. A Fellow of both the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) and the Canadian Numismatic Research Society (CNRS), Clute has regularly contributed to CCN since 1973, when he took over the “Questions... Continue reading →

While the “superb rarity” 1935 Bank of Canada banknote took the spotlight at Geoffrey Bell Auctions’ sale held at the Toronto Coin Expo, it was Ralph Dickieson’s Prince Edward Island collection that generated the most intense bidding among collectors. “I am really, really pleased,” auctioneer Brian Bell said when asked about Lot 530 featuring the... Continue reading →

Most numismatic enthusiasts know that St. Eligius is the patron saint of this fun pastime, but how many actually know anything about him? Grand Knight Scott Douglas of the St. Eligius Brotherhood of Numismatists in Canada, gave a presentation at the National Postage Stamp and Coin Show where he spoke about Eligius’s life. Douglas recently... Continue reading →

The Specimen-64 “King of Canadian Coins” featured in Colonial Acres’ Fall Premier Numismatic Auction has a new owner after selling for $160,480 at the National Postage Stamp and Coin Show. One of six Specimen-grade examples of the 1921-dated 50-cent piece known to exist, Lot 616B featured a beautiful PCGS-graded coin “garbed in a fitting sombre... Continue reading →

A 1935 $500 Bank of Canada banknote that “hasn’t seen the light of day at any auction” will make its first appearance at Geoffrey Bell Auctions (GBA)’s Sept. 29 sale on the opening day of the Toronto Coin Expo. Describing it as a “superb rarity,” GBA’s Brian Bell says the auction firm acquired the rare... Continue reading →

With only 109 reported in existence, a 1924 Dominion of Canada $5 banknote is available at Colonial Acres’ Fall Premier Numismatic Auction this September. Graded PMG VF-25, Lot 955 bears Campbell-Sellar signatures, with a presale estimate of $9,735. “You can expect to see some fantastic examples of numismatics in this auction,” says Colonial’s Todd Sandham.... Continue reading →

While Paul Demerchant has been “seriously” collecting coins for the last 25 years, he decided this year at age 81 to enter his first exhibit in the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA)’s convention exhibition. It paid off big time for the Florenceville-Bristol, N.B. resident. Not only did he place first in his category of Canadian... Continue reading →

The “much rarer” 1874 Indian Treaty Medal No. 4, sold at the recent Royal Canadian Numismatic Association convention auction, is returning home to the Pasqua First Nation in Saskatchewan. “Having possession of the Treaty 4 medal is important for the Nation,” the successful bidder writes in a news release from The Canadian Numismatic Company (TCNC),... Continue reading →