By Mike Walsh When numismatists gather in Boucherville, Que., this July for the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA)’s annual convention, they will be greeted with, “Welcome to New France.” According to Yvon Marquis, the theme of this year’s July 9-14 convention is especially significant as 2024 marks the quincentenary (1524-2024) of European explorers’ toponymic designations of Acadia (originally Arcadie) and New France (originally Francesca). “New France was much more than just a period in history, more than just an immense territory, more than just a French colony; it was, in a way ..read more

Canada’s National Coin Show, a premier event for numismatic enthusiasts, is set to return to the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel on June 22-23. This renowned money will showcase a wide array of Canada’s finest dealers, offering a diverse selection of coins, paper money, and related collectibles. The two-day show provides an exceptional platform for collectors of all levels to buy, sell, trade, and get expert evaluations on their numismatic treasures. Attendees can expect to discover rare coins, captivating collections, and everything in between. Show Owner Brian Smith adds, “Torex brings to ..read more

Canada Post, which holds a monopoly on Canadian letter delivery, reported a loss of $748 million this year and is expected to run out of money by early 2025. Despite parcel delivery to Canadian businesses and households being at an all-time high, the Crown corporation continues to struggle as it has lost about 50 per cent that business to competitors. In an insightful documentary first aired on CBC on May 24, host Andrew Chang delves into the challenges facing Canada Post and explores what these issues mean for the future of mail delivery to Canadians. Click on the link below to view the docum ..read more

The Royal Canadian Mint experienced a seven per cent decline in the sale of its numismatic coins during the first three months of 2024. According to its first-quarter results reported on May 24, the Mint attributed the drop in collector coin sales to the high demand in the first quarter of  2023 for products commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept. 8, 2022. In the months that followed, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced several collectible coins to honor the late monarch. Throughout 2023, the Mint also released a series of coins to commemorate the May 6 ..read more

Collectors can expect to find various treasures at the Simcoe Currency Club’s inaugural Coin Show this Sunday, May 26, in Cookstown, Ont., including “great coins’ such as a 1947 Maple Leaf Silver Dollar, a 1921 five-cent silver, and an 1870 Victoria 50-cent ‘no LCW’, as highlighted in the club’s ad in Canadian Coin News. The club, founded last October with an initial gathering of 10 members, aims to fill a void in the local area, as noted by co-organizers Cassidy Stroud and Bill Bischoff. The show will be held at the Cookstown Club at 18 Church Street (Hwy 89) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission i ..read more

Original manuscripts by Robert Wallace McLachlan, a prominent early Canadian numismatist, are up for auction in Kolbe & Fanning’s June 15 Sale 170. Lot 221 features an original typescript of the “The Money of Canada from the Historical Stand Point,” delivered before the Royal Society of Canada in Ottawa in May 1915. This typescript is on plain paper, extensively revised in ink by the author, and includes his autograph at the end. It comprises 29 standard pure linen sheets, printed and written on one side only. Although the first page is slightly dusty, the document is overall described as ..read more

The Canadian Numismatic Company’s Marathon Sale is showcasing over 1,200 numismatic and military lots in its online auction from June 7-9. This June sale features two major collections along with selections from more than 40 other consignors across North America. Highlights include several rare and unique items, such as an 1871 $10 Commercial Bank of Windsor note. Graded Choice Very Fine-25 by Legacy Currency Grading, the note is fully signed by Walter Lawson and G. P. Payzant. This is the first note of its kind that TCNC has had the opportunity to offer in its sales. The Quebec auction house ..read more

The Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America (CONECA) will be offering free examinations of error and variety coins to collectors at educational tables at coin shows across the U.S. For the past five decades, the club has been dedicated to educating collectors about mint error and variety coins. At their coin show tables, CONECA board members and other error/variety enthusiasts, each with different specialties, will provide free examinations to collectors who bring their coins to the show with questions. CONECA is focused solely on education and will not be buying or se ..read more

The Royal Mint has issued a 50-pence commemorative to pay tribute to the fallen Allied troops and veterans who fought 80 years ago in Operation Overlord, the codename for the Battle of Normandy. This Allied operation launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during the Second World War. The reverse, designed by David Lawrence with support from the Imperial War Museums, depicts Allied soldiers disembarking from a landing craft onto the beaches of Normandy, with offensive aircraft in the sky above. The design is accompanied by the inscription “D-DAY 6 JUNE 1944 UTAH OM ..read more

The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) has appointed Joseph (Joe) Kennedy as the interim editor of The Canadian Numismatic Journal (CNJ). In a notice sent to its members, the RCNA stated, “The association is fortunate that the editor of the award-winning publication The Planchet, the club newsletter of the Edmonton Numismatic Society, has taken on the responsibilities and editorial duties of the CNJ editor.” Kennedy, of St. Albert, Alta., will now lead the CNJ editorial staff. He succeeds Henry Nienhuis, who served as the CNJ editor for several years. “My sincere apologies for the de ..read more