The keynote speaker for this year’s Ontario Numismatic Association (ONA) Convention banquet is James Charlton Jr., who will speak about his father and iconic Canadian numismatist James E. Charlton tonight at 7 p.m.
“Jim Charlton probably did more to popularize the coin hobby than any other individual in the last 50 years,” Geoffrey Bell, who was RCNA president from 1983-85 and again from 2001-03, told CCN in 2013. “He was a man of integrity, honesty and always asked fair prices when dealing. He encouraged new ventures that I personally experienced when we opened our auction house. He was generous to a fault that mirrored his Salvation Army faith.”
The elder Charlton began collecting coins at the age of 15, when his brother gave him an 1863 U.S. Indian Head cent. This numismatic interest stayed with him, and he eventually became a beloved dealer, auctioneer, author and publisher. A string of catalogues considered to be “the Bible” of Canadian numismatics continues to be published under his name; in fact, the 71st edition of the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins was released in July 2017.
Charlton died in September 2013 at the age of 103.
BOURSE HOURS
The bourse will be open today from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Collectors and non-collectors alike are invited to buy, sell and trade an assortment of numismatic and related material from more than 35 dealers, who are also offering free appraisals. Admission is only $3 today and free tomorrow. Children aged 17 and under are always free.
Today’s festivities include:
- 7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.: ONA Club Delegates’ Breakfast in Ontario Salon B Open (tickets required)
- 8 a.m.-10 a.m.: Bourse open to dealers, exhibitors and delegates in the Waterloo Salon A-B-C
- 8 a.m.-5 p.m.: Registration tables open for registration kits
- 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Canadian Tire Coupon Collectors’ Club meeting in Michigan Room
- 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Hospitality suite open to all registrants, bourse dealers and families for complimentary coffee and soft drinks in Erie Room (second floor)
- 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Bourse floor open to public
- 10:15 a.m.-noon: ONA annual general meeting and Club Delegates’ Meeting in Ontario Salon Room C
- 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.: Canadian Association of Token Collectors meeting in Ontario Salon Room A
- 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m.: Canadian Centennial Collector’s Club meets in Ontario Salon Room C
- 1 p.m.-4 p.m.: RCNA Coin Kids auction in Michigan Room
- 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Canadian Association of Wooden Money Collectors meeting in Ontario Salon Room B
- 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: Pre-banquet reception and cash bar (tickets required) in Ontario Salon Rooms A-B-C
- 7 p.m.-midnight: Banquet in Ontario Salon Rooms A-B-C.
ONA AWARDS
Each year, the ONA bestows two awards – the Award of Merit and the Fellow of the ONA Award – to recognize numismatists who have made contributions to the advancement of numismatics in Ontario as well as at the local level.
The announcement of recipients will take place at the annual ONA banquet, which is held annually in conjunction with the association’s convention. This year’s banquet will be held on today from 7 p.m.-midnight.
The awards consist of a silver medal, an inscribed certificate, an engraved metallic name badge and a complimentary seat at the banquet. For the Award of Merit, ONA members are invited to submit the name of an Ontario resident who is a member of the ONA and is worthy of being recognized for significant contributions to the success of the ONA and numismatics in Ontario.
For more information about the awards, visit the-ona.ca/merit.php and the-ona.ca/fellow.php.
The ONA executive recently announced the creation of two awards, the first of which is the Club of the Year Award, which will be presented tonight for the first time.
The Club of the Year Award will recognize significant contributions by ONA member clubs to the hobby of numismatics. This year’s winner will be announced and presented with the award during today’s Club Delegates’ Breakfast.
CLUB DELEGATES’ BREAKFAST
“The Club Delegates’ Breakfast was last held at the 1994 ONA Convention,” explains convention chair and treasurer Robb McPherson. “In 1995, it was changed to just a club delegates’ meeting, which was eventually merged into the annual general meeting a few years later. The Club Delegate Breakfast had seen many notable speakers back in the early 1990s. Paul Fiocca was one of them, RCM executives and other notable people such as John Regitko were keynote speakers. The ONA’s new Club Service Chairman Steve Woodland will be the keynote speaker for this year’s event.”
“The ONA hopes to see a full house of delegates represented from all the local clubs at the first Club Delegates’ Breakfast since 1994,” added McPherson. “The cost is a mere $20, which we hope a lot of the local clubs will reimburse some of their members to attend this function. The ONA is subsidizing the cost of this event as the actual cost is higher than the $20.”
Entries will be judged on the basis of the club’s health and welfare; the club’s promotion of the hobby; the club’s advancement of numismatics within the local area, in Ontario and across Canada; the club’s programs, activities and other benefits offered to members; and the club’s support of youth and novice collectors.
The ONA also recently announced the creation of the President’s Literary Award, which will be presented by Douglas at the convention’s banquet. Judged by a four-person committee, this award will recognize the best article published in the Ontario Numismatist during the previous year.