Category Archives: Top Story

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

Beyond circulation and collector coins, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is also the focus of many numismatic “fringe” pieces issued in Canada since the “Mounties” were formed in 1873 as the North-West Mounted Police. A century later, the RCMP’s 100th anniversary was widely commemorated on municipal trade tokens, medals and so-called “challenge coins,” the... Continue reading →

After a robust year in Canadian numismatics, collectors and dealers alike are looking back at the past 12 months to shine a light on where the hobby is headed next. In regards to major collections being offered on the market – and rewriting the market’s trends – the sales of the “Cornerstone” and George Cook... Continue reading →

Remembered as a legend of Canadian numismatics and with many decades of service as a trusted coin dealer, Bob Armstrong, of Owen Sound, Ont., died on Nov. 8 at the age of 84. A life member of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) and Ontario Numismatic Association (ONA), the latter of which he joined in... Continue reading →