Selections from the library of late numismatist Doug Robins, whose iconic collection of Canadian tokens realized more than $1 million at auction in April 2018, were offered in a recent sale by Kolbe and Fanning Numismatic Booksellers.
Among the top highlights was a complete set of four auction catalogues produced for the sale of W.W.C. Wilson’s collection in the 1920s. Offered as Lot 324 of the 441-lot sale, the lot realized $800 USD (about $1,075 Cdn.).
“The four W.W.C. Wilson sales, held one a year from 1925 to 1928, admittedly decline in importance as they go up in number—but they increase dramatically in rarity, with the first being fairly available (in unplated form at least), the second being scarce, the third being very scarce, and this final sale being genuinely rare,” reads the Kolbe and Fanning auction catalogue for the April 27 sale.

A lot of 132 Royal Canadian Numismatic Association convention medals, which had an opening bid of $2,750 USD, was passed by bidders.
LOT OF 132 RCNA MEDALS PASSED
Also offered in the sale – but ultimately passed by bidders – was a lot of 132 Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) convention medals.
With an overall 2008 book value (the latest edition) of more than $6,000 USD and a minimum bid of $2,750 USD, the collection was assembled by late collector Phil Carrigan, of Illinois.
Specializing in Canadian coins and a frequent attendee of RCNA conventions, Carrigan assembled a nearly complete collection of RCNA medals dated 1954-2016, with only 1960 (Sherbrooke, Qué.) and 2008 (Ottawa) missing.
Housed in a variety of holders, the medals are “generally uncirculated,” according to auctioneers, which added some “are scarce and a few are genuinely rare.”