News

One of the really difficult things for burgeoning collectors to grasp is the concept of how rarity affects the price of a coin. That is usually because they fail to look at demand. Take, for instance, errors. By definition most of the really spectacular errors are unique; freak coins produced when something went horribly wrong. They are often, when the nature of the error, year, and denomination are considered, literally one-of-a-kind coins. Continue reading →

The reason I mention it here is that I was immediately reminded of one of the first things I learned about coin collecting. That old maxim “buy the book before you buy the coin.” In this case the reason the collector found a great rarity was because he knew enough to know what to look for, and wasn’t afraid to act on his knowledge. Established collectors know that, all other things being equal, whoever knows the most makes the best deal. I discovered this early on, when purchasing one of my first Victoria silver crowns. Continue reading →

While much of coin collecting is about grading, history, the minting process, and the buying and selling of coins to meet a collecting goal, the fellowship that comes from associating with other collectors is a very tangible benefit as well. For one thing, a lot of coin collectors really are fun people who love to hang out and tell a few jokes, while comparing coins. Continue reading →

For years, I have been preaching that the best way to attract new collectors is to give them varied pocket change, which they can collect for face value. To me, the reasons are obvious: zero risk, the fun of looking through coins, and the fact that it reaches all Canadians because circulating coins are everywhere. Sure the coins may not be in mint condition, but that only means a prospective collector can actually touch them without worrying about altering a pristine surface. Continue reading →

Coin designs often have to pass through the hands of bureaucrats and study groups before getting into production, a process that’s not conducive to artistic risks. Modern coin designers have great talent, but I suspect much less artistic freedom than many would like to have. Just once I would like to hear someone tell me how the entire coin design, from conceptualization on, was the work of one mind and one pair of hands. Continue reading →