Canadian Coinage – North Shore Numismatic Society Vancouver

Happy New Year!! 2021

1 January 2021 1 January 2021Canadian Coinage

All the best for 2021 from all of us at North Shore Numismatic Society 100 years ago! The coin featured here is a quintessential Canadian rarity, colloquially known as the “King of Canadian Coins.” The 1921 50 Cents issue had an initial mintage of 206,398 pieces, although according to Charlton, contemporary demand was not great for the 50 Cent denomination. Approximately 28,000 pieces were issued from 1921 to 1929. Most experts believe those issued were dated 1920. When demand for the denomination resurfaced at the turn of the 1930s, John Honeyford Campbell – the mintmaster – decided to melt the…

Anniversary of the Armistice 1918

11 November 2018 10 November 2018Canadian Coinage

It’s 100 years since the Armistice of 1918 brought the Great War to an end. We remember the fallen. We remember the terrible trauma and the families’ grief. It was hoped that the Armistice would bring peace but it did not. Peace be with all.

2018 Yin Yang Coin

5 May 2018 5 May 2018Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

These two amazing Canadian yin and yang-shaped silver coins feature two heroes of Chinese tradition—the Tiger and the Dragon. They are designed to fit together to form a perfect circle. The theme of balance is fully realized in their stunning imagery, rich colour, and singular design! Yin and yang function together to represent harmony and balance among opposing forces. Though associated with opposition traits (Tiger/Dragon, black/white, feminine/masculine, hard/soft, heaven/earth), there is no hierarchy between them. The Tiger, earthy and cunning, conjures strength and bravery. The mythical Dragon, master of the heavens, is associated with power and was once synonymous…

125th Anniversary of the Stanley Cup

3 October 2017 3 October 2017Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

In 1892, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley, donated a silver bowl for the purpose of fostering a competitive spirit between Canada’s amateur hockey teams. From this expression of support sprung a rich legacy, as the Stanley Cup evolved into one of the most revered trophy in professional sports—and a celebrated icon in Canada. The Royal Canadian Mint is proud to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup’s origins, with a one-of-a-kind shaped coin that pays tribute to hockey’s ultimate prize. Special Features: -AN OUTSTANDING RCM FIRST: Introducing the first ever Stanley Cup-shaped coin! -Struck…

Bejeweled Bugs: Butterfly

25 July 2017 25 July 2017Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

Exploring the new releases at Royal Canadian Mint at mint.ca. They have a butterfly: 1 oz. Pure Silver Coloured Coin – Bejeweled Bugs: Butterfly – Mintage: 4,000 And here’s what they have to say: “A FIRST! A gemstone-adorned butterfly on a pure silver coin! Order today! Basking in the warm rays of the summer sun, the butterfly is arguably the winged jewel of the insect world! This timeless symbol of love, hope and faith has long been an object of fascination, admiration and inspiration around the world. It is also a powerful metaphor for life and change, famously transitioning from ravenous…

Sesquicentennial Puzzle Coin

12 July 2017 12 July 2017Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

Canadian heraldic artist Cathy Bursey-Sabourin has recreated Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial shields on a series of jigsaw pieces that encircle a central coin to create a large, 14-part coin. Each shield is exquisitely coloured and presented in the order each province and territory entered Confederation. A garland of maple leaves visually connects the pieces and carries a ribbon with each province’s and territory’s year of entry into Confederation. The central coin features a selectively gold plated Centre Block of Parliament Hill…

1921 50 Cents “King of Coins” to auction

5 July 2017 5 July 2017Canadian Coinage

RCNA auction to feature ‘King’ of Canadian coins says the front page of Canadian Coin News this week. The “King” of Canadian coins – a 1921 50 cent piece, graded ICCS MS65 – will take pride of place at the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association’s 2017 auction, to be held July 20-22 2017 in Boucherville, Quebec. In February 2015 CCN reported that 1921 50 Cents coin had sold at auction for $220,000 What will it fetch this time do you think ? and here is King George V (although from a 50 cents with a different date )

#Canada150

1 July 2017 25 July 2017Canadian Coinage, Coin

This #Canada150 release commemorates the 150th anniversary of Canada. It’s a silver 3 dollars priced at $19.95. RCM > “Canadian artist Laurie McGaw has created a fun and uplifting collage of the places and things that make Canada great.” A newcomer to B.C. and Canada says: “A lot of thought has gone into the individual elements in the design, and they are nicely rendered. I really like the geographic layout. My eyes dot about the coin itself. It’s a busy design with a beaver naturally, and a polar bear, a statuesque moose, a salmon and a Canada goose. There’s an inukshuk…

Resistance is Futile! The Borg are on a coin

30 April 2017 30 April 2017Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

Star Trek™: The Borg - 1 oz. Pure Silver Coloured Coin (2017) - See more at: http://www.mint.ca/store/coins/coin-prod2930141?lang=en_CA#.WQWhvogrKCo

Royal Canadian Mint have released a coin celebrating the Borg from Star Trek > “From 1987 to 1994, Star Trek™: The Next Generation built upon the spirit of The Original Series by updating the themesto reflect its time. Even today, Canadian Star Trek™ fans remain as dedicated as ever to it, with a stellar cast of characters and gripping episodes such as “The Best of Both Worlds,” which included one of the most memorable antagonists of all time: the Borg. The formidable Borg pose one of the greatest threats to the Federation. They are uncompromising in their desire for “perfection,”…

George V grading, notes from the April NSNS club meeting

21 April 2017 20 April 2017Canadian Coinage, Club News

Percy Metcalfe obverse 1935 Canada Dollar

Hi everyone, We had a great meeting this last Tuesday. Thank you Bill Watson who gave a fascinating presentation on the grading of George V coins and facilitated an open discussion about coin grading. The websites presented were:- Coins and Canada guide to grading http://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-grading.php Saskatoon Coin Club – Canadian Coin Gradinghttp://www.saskatooncoinclub.ca/articles/12_grading_canadian_coins.html This is the grading book mentioned Andre Langlois – Guide for Grading Coins of Canada, Boucherville Press, 1st Ed., 2015 It is available from Chantou http://www.chantou.com/ Giuseppe Iorio said there would be a discount for club members! Bill Watson mentioned that George V joined the Navy at the age of 12. Here…

CCN > Thomas Button dispatched in search of Northwest Passage

17 April 2017 17 April 2017Canadian Coinage

Canadian Coin News feature this 2015 $200 gold coin celebrating Henry Hudson in their On This Day column. APRIL 14, 2017 OTD: Thomas Button dispatched in search of Northwest Passage On today’s date in 1612, Welsh Royal Navy officer Thomas Button sailed out of London in search of the Northwest Passage. The aim of the expedition, which was backed by the Prince of Wales and the Northwest Co., was to retrace “the now familiar route,” according to Lincoln Paine’s 2000 book, Ships of Discovery and Exploration. The previous expedition, which began in 1610, was commanded by English explorer Henry Hudson, who sailed…

125th Anniversary of the Stanley Cup 2017

19 March 2017 19 March 2017Canadian Coinage

Stanley Cup Royal Canadian Mint have issued a limited edition quarter celebrating 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup. The design of this new circulating 25 cent coin “depicts the Stanley Cup® flanked by two hockey players. On the left is a player who would have vied for the trophy in its earliest days; on the right is a player from today’s era. Together, they represent the full span of the Cup’s rich history ” See the page on the Royal Canadian Mint website

The Battle of Hong Kong Remembered

11 November 2016 30 October 2016Canadian Coinage, History In Coins

Canada’s first land combat of the Second World War began on December 8, 1941, when, mere hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese launched an invasion on the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Outnumbered and less well equipped than the enemy, the odds were not in the Canadians’ favour as they defended the peninsula, then the island itself. Over 550 of the 1,975 Canadians sent to Hong Kong never made it home; but during the 17 days of fierce fighting, they fought valiantly, even engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, as they defended Hong Kong…

Outstanding Iconic Animals

2 November 2016 1 November 2016Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

Nature is an integral part of Canada’s national identity. Throughout its vast wilderness are species that tower above all others as iconic national symbols. These magnificent animals have shaped Canada’s character and reign as cornerstones in the rich cultural legacy of its Indigenous peoples. This new series honours five pillars of the Canadian wild. Each coin features a meticulously crafted sculpture mounted on its surface to bring unprecedented dimension, look and feel to its design—and what better species to place on such a pedestal for the first coin than the…

Mint’s First 3-D Coin

20 October 2016 20 October 2016Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

The Mint’s First True 3-D Coin Ever! Unique printing and embossing bring unprecedented dimension to the engraved design! Few sights are as electrifying as a breaching whale, and this coin features one of the most iconic species that can be witnessed off Canada’s east and west coasts. For the first time ever, we combined a unique printing and embossing process to create a 3-D whale that appears to be launching itself right off the surface of the coin to jaw-dropping effect. Designed by Canadian artist Matt Bowen, the coin features a three-dimensional depiction of…

Happy British Columbia Day!

1 August 2016 1 August 2016Canadian Coinage

In the late 1850s, gold was discovered in the Fraser River and Cariboo districts of British Columbia. The gold rush that followed brought a large influx of new inhabitants, changing the colony virtually overnight from a small settlement based on trading to a rapidly expanding one. The almost complete lack of a circulating medium occasioned great inconvenience. In 1859, Governor James Douglas requested Her Majesty’s government to ship out a specified quantity of gold, silver and copper coins. Silver and copper coins amounting to little more than half the value requested were shipped, but no gold coins. The governor, well…

The Shortage of Coins in New France

31 July 2016 30 July 2016Canadian Coinage, History In Coins

The Shortage of Coins The colonists living in New France from the mid-1660s on used barter to exchange goods but also used metal coins, such as this 15-sol French coin dated 1670. However, there was never enough hard currency to go around. Silver coins that were sent from France were quickly taken from circulation by local merchants, who immediately returned them to France to pay their taxes and to buy European-made commodities. New France, Louis XIV, 15 sols, 1670 Thank you Bank of Canada Museum for these images. The shortage of coins persisted throughout the history of New France.…

Star Trek: To Boldy Go

13 May 2016 16 May 2016Canadian Coinage

The Royal Canadian Mint have joined the Star Trek 50 year celebration. “Since its television debut, Star Trek‘s imaginative storylines have brought fans on an incredible journey through time and space. Kirk, Scotty, Uhura, and Spock—they served as our fictional trailblazers in an exciting new frontier that seemed as boundless as our imaginations. Guided by the Prime Directive and a spirit of discovery, the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew introduced viewers to more than 70 different new worlds while encountering nearly as many alien species. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek—a television series that is beloved…

A canvasback duck from Canada

14 March 2016 14 March 2016Canadian Coinage

1/2 oz. Fine Silver Coloured Coin – Ducks of Canada: Canvasback – Mintage: 10,000 (2016)

The Canvasback duck – Aythya valisineria – North America’s largest diving duck – Read moreabout Canvasback Duck on mint.ca website Designed by Canadian artist Glen C. Scrimshaw, 1/2 oz. Fine Silver Coloured Coin – Ducks of Canada: Canvasback – Mintage: 10,000 (2016) Thank you mint.ca for images and text.

Beginning Canada Coins – One Cent i

23 February 2016 23 February 2016Canadian Coinage, Coin

Today I took a bit of time out and sat down with a tub of old pennies. Bliss! We’d put it aside back in 2013. The earliest one was 1952 and the latest was the last – 2012. All of them saved from 2011/2012 circulation. Unfortunately there were a few with severe bronze disease and it has now spread as it is wont. Tiny patches of bright green here and there. There’s no time to treat it for a penny so they must go. There’s a fair few gaps in my ‘Date Run’ but there’re lots of Cents in reasonable and even extremely…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: