What’s in a name?
Well, when it comes to the acronym CAFNE, I am hoping it will become top of mind for all numismatists.
CAFNE stands for the Canadian Association for Numismatic Education. As stated on its website, the non-profit organization’s mandate includes:
To educate the public about numismatics on the study of coins, currency, medals, tokens, paper money, and related objects primarily from Canada, but also including other cultures, past and present, through the provision of educational programs and activities;
To conduct research about primarily Canadian numismatics and to communicate the results therefrom to interested individuals, groups, organizations, academics, and governments in order to educate the public about numismatics; and
To give scholarships and bursaries for the study and research of numismatics.
Thanks to CAFNE, especially its mandate to “educate the public about numismatics,” collectors have been able to enjoy some great presenters in recent years as a number of symposiums have been funded, in part by CAFNE, including:
• Ottawa Coin Club 2011 publication, Moneta
• RCNA 2012 Annual Symposium, Calgary
• RCNA 2012 Annual Coin Grading & Preservation course, Humber College in Toronto
• RCNA Coin Kids events, 2012
• RCNA 2013 Annual Symposium, Winnipeg
• RCNA 2013 Annual Coin Grading & Preservation course, Humber College
• RCNA 2013 Coin Kids events, Winnipeg
• Educational Symposium at the 2013 Toronto Coin Expo, fall show
• Educational Symposium at the 2014 Toronto Coin Expo, spring and fall shows
• RCNA 2014 Educational Symposium, Mississauga, Ont.
• RCNA 2014 Coin Grading and Preservation one-day course, Mississauga
I believe it is important for collectors to understand that CAFNE is fulfilling a major role in supporting numismatic symposiums and programs for all collectors in Canada. The above list needs to continue to grow. The late, great numismatist Jim Charlton believed in this. He was a major benefactor of CAFNE.
As well, esteemed numismatist Charles “Chuck” Moore played an instrumental role, along with a group of notable Canadian collectors, in starting up CAFNE. Moore was chairman of CAFNE until his death earlier this year.
CAFNE is a great resource for remembering the legacies of Charlton, Moore and others by financially donating to the non-profit organization.
As freelancer writer Jeff Fournier wrote in this week’s cover story: “CAFNE’s mandate is education. It is only through education, that Canada’s numismatic community will be able to attract new collectors and it is only through education that will help keep them in the hobby.”
We all need to support CAFNE. Your donations will not go unnoticed as it’s collectors of all levels who reap the benefits of numismatic education; of course, that benefits our entire numismatic community and culture.
CAFNE is set up to accept donations by mail or online, and issues charitable tax receipts. For more information, go to cafne.ca.