With the death of long-time Winnipeg numismatist Jim Astwood, Manitoba trade token collectors will lose their leading researcher.
While Astwood made many contributions to the hobby, his work with Manitoba trade tokens is one of his shining legacies, according to his fellow collectors.
“Of course, perhaps his biggest claim to fame was his ongoing labour of love and tour de force, An Illustrated Guide to Manitoba Trade Tokens,” said Howard Engel, who’s a member of the Manitoba Coin Club, of which Astwood was the last surviving charter member.
Astwood published the catalogue’s latest edition – its 10th – in 2018 plus another supplement in January 2020.
Engel said Astwood “took over where the late, great Donald M. Stewart left off with A Complete Supplement to Trade and Advertising Tokens of Manitoba,” which was first published by the Canadian Numismatic Research Society in 1969.
“It remains to be seen if and how this important work may continue in Mr. Astwood’s absence.”
CCN will publish a full obituary in Vol. 59 #21 (“Manitoba specialist Jim Astwood dies at 87”).