Category Archives: Top Story
Collectors keeping busy under COVID-19 lockdown
Since the age of 14, Paul Johnson has been active in numismatics. He was recently named an Honorary Life Member of the Peterborough Coin Club. (File photo)
Between writing, researching, cataloguing and browsing online offerings to add to their collections, Canadian numismatists have no shortage of tasks to stay busy while under lockdown. As March turned into April, much of Canada was placed under even stricter shelter-in-place and social-distancing orders, which are now expected to last “several weeks, perhaps several months,” according... Continue reading →
Living with collectors in times of crisis
Non-collector Lisa Dare (right) was one of eight speakers at a symposium organized by Scott Douglas (left), then Royal Canadian Numismatic Association education chair, last summer in Calgary.
“In order to be understood, we have to try to understand.” That concept is something Lisa Dare lives and breathes as both an accredited professional consultant and as the wife of a collector. In her day job, she teaches executives, managers and other business leaders the importance of building strong relationships through effective communication. At... Continue reading →
Numismatic world grinds to halt as Canada takes aim at COVID-19
As of March 23, COVID-19 has hit more than 190 countries with nearly 375,000 cases and 16,000 deaths worldwide.
In a matter of days, dozens of shows, auctions, club meetings and other numismatic events in Canada were cancelled as cases of COVID-19 sharply increased. Following the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) community-based measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many show organizers are cancelling their events. In addition to public and mass gathering... Continue reading →
RCM launches largest-ever ‘Gold Maple’
A 10-kilogram 'Gold Maple Leaf' bullion coin – the largest ever struck by the Royal Canadian Mint – was on display at PDAC 2020, a mineral exploration and mining convention held in Toronto this March.
The Royal Canadian Mint’s largest-ever Gold Maple Leaf (GML) – an annual bullion coin issued since 1979 – was recently struck in high relief at the Crown corporation's Ottawa facility. The 10-kilogram coin was on display at the Mint's booth at PDAC 2020, billed as “the world’s premier mineral exploration and mining convention,” in Toronto this March. "For more than... Continue reading →
A modern website can leave some clubs in a ‘catch-22’
While the Calgary Numismatic Society’s (CNS) redesigned website is more functional than before, it’s ‘a bit of a struggle’ to keep it updated with fresh content, said CNS President Trevor Phillips.
Owing to the importance of an online presence, the Calgary Numismatic Society (CNS) recently hired a public-relations firm to revamp its website, something the club’s president describes as a “double-edged sword.” It was “largely to make it look better on mobile platforms,” added CNS President Trevor Phillips. While the site is now “a bit more... Continue reading →
Clubs need online presence for ‘hobby’s very existence’
While more than 95 per cent of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association’s (RCNA) new recruits are made through its website, the association also uses Facebook (shown above) for further promotion and visibility online.
Coin clubs at all levels – local, regional and national – must maintain an online presence to survive in today’s Internet-focused world. Whether it’s with a website or through social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube), this online presence is paramount in promoting a club’s visibility. Using the Internet, it’s now easier than ever... Continue reading →
Rare 1924 ‘bank legal’ specimen to cross block at Torex Auction
A 1924 $1,000 bank legal specimen certified as About Uncirculated-53 PPQ (premium paper quality) is expected to bring $50,000-$75,000 as Lot 170.
A $1,000 “bank legal” specimen issued by the Dominion of Canada nearly a century ago is expected to bring upwards of $75,000 at this February’s Torex Auction. Used by the federal government to move large amounts of money between banks, the 1924-dated bank legal (DC-37S) is offered as Lot 170 of the four-session auction by... Continue reading →
Casino chips, tokens a good bet for collectors
A $200 silver strike from the former Imperial Palace (now the Link) numbered ‘139’ is held by casino collector Robb McPherson. It contains one pound of .999 Fine silver.
Between casino chips, roulette tokens, slot tokens and the sought-after “Silver Strikes,” casino collectibles offer many ways for numismatists to up the ante with their collections. Part of a fast-growing hobby, collectors of gaming memorabilia – everything from chips to tokens, dice, slot cards, playing cards, rewards cards, matchbooks and even room keys – have... Continue reading →
CAND Convention to return in late January without auction
Bags of money are held by Michael Findlay, president of the Canadian Association of Numismatic Dealers, which is hosting its annual convention on Jan. 25-26 in Hamilton, Ont.
The annual convention of the Canadian Association of Numismatic Dealers (CAND) is set to return to Hamilton this January, but – for the first time in decades – it will be without its auction. Opening the year in numismatics, the 2020 CAND Convention will be held Jan. 25-26 at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel on 116... Continue reading →