The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) is currently planning its first virtual convention in the footsteps of another successful online show hosted by its provincial counterpart.
The RCNA’s upcoming convention – Canada’s second major virtual numismatic show – is scheduled for July 16-25. Like the virtual Ontario Numismatic Association (ONA) Convention this April, it will be free and open to everyone to attend.
“It’s going to take place over a period of about 10 days,” said Paul Johnson, the long-time executive secretary of the roughly 1,200-member RCNA.
After an opening ceremony on July 16, all convention events related to the RCNA – the educational symposium, annual general meeting (AGM), club delegates’ meeting and award presentations – will take place on July 17-18 and July 24-25.
All RCNA chapter club meetings will take place during the week of July 19-23, with two events each evening.
“The reason for that is – let’s face it – a lot of people are working during the day,” said Johnson, who added this year’s virtual convention will be “quite a bit different” than the typical in-person gathering. “The main thing is there’s no cost involved – it’s free for everyone to attend.”
Organizers are planning to finalize all event details by the end of April, after which time officials will publish a full program of events online and in the Canadian Numismatic Journal, the RCNA’s official publication.
CCN will also publish a full convention preview before the July convention.
This year’s RCNA Convention medal design will be announced in May.
The RCNA’s convention-branded “PCGS Sample” coins – certified and slabbed by the U.S.-based Professional Coin Grading Service – will also be available during this year’s virtual event.
Last year’s RCNA Convention, slated for July 21-25 in Ottawa, was cancelled due to COVID-19 – a first in the association’s nearly 70-year history. It would have been the RCNA’s 67th annual convention since its first one in 1954. No virtual convention was held in 2020, but officials presented the RCNA’s annual awards and hosted last year’s AGM via Zoom.
Next year, the 2022 RCNA Convention will return to Ottawa on July 20-25.
Halifax will host the 2023 RCNA Convention.
As of mid-May, RCNA officials have yet to choose a host for the 2024 convention.