Coin Collecting: Resources that Aid in Numismatic Research Coin collecting often starts out informally. Maybe you get a set of coins for your 10th birthday, which leads you to collect coins from each year afterward. You inherit a collection from grandpa and suddenly get interested in understanding the history of the coins. A good coin collection includes other resources that provide contextual information for the coins. Scott Douglas is a prime example of a collector who didn’t stop with coins. He started collecting coins as a young person. Today, his library related to coins is almost unparalleled – three home…
Royal Canadian Mint
Canadian Coins Featuring the Iconic Oscar Peterson
Canadian Coins Featuring the Iconic Oscar Peterson Duke Ellington called him the “Maharaja of the Keyboard.” He won seven Grammys and a lifetime achievement award from the organization. It would take another page or two to list his other awards, which include a UNESCO Music Prize, honorary degrees from more than 10 universities and multiple awards for pianist of the year, and others. Who is this paragon of the piano? It’s Oscar Peterson, noted jazz pianist and composer. Louis Armstrong called Peterson “the man with four hands,” for his style, speed and dexterity when playing piano. Peterson is considered a…
2023 $15 Lunar Year of the Rabbit Fine Silver Coin
The Chinese Zodiac is a 12-year astrological cycle, with each year represented by a different animal. The Royal Canadian Mint started a series of commemorative coins celebrating the Chinese Zodiac starting in 2022, the Year of the Tiger. The series continues with a 2023 coin for the Year of the Rabbit. What Is the Significance of the Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac? According to the story, the Jade Emperor invited the animals to his palace for a party. He told them that the order in which they arrived would determine their position in the Chinese Zodiac. The Rabbit knew that…
Is the 1856 Nova Scotia Mayflower Token the Most Beautiful Design Ever Created?
1856 isn’t necessarily a notable year. In March, the British Empire’s Crimean War ended and the Treaty of Paris was signed. Dallas, Texas was incorporated as a city. The Second Opium War began in China. And in a little territory on the Atlantic coast of what would become Canada, a small token, or coin, was minted with the blessing of the British government. The 1856 Nova Scotia Mayflower Token is often considered one of the most beautiful coins ever designed. Here’s some history about this Canadian half penny. A Brief History of Currency in Nova Scotia The modern economy runs…
Coins that Share the Amazing Colours of Autumn in Canada
If you’re weary of the summer heat, keep in mind that autumn is right around the corner. In just a few weeks, you’ll be enjoying the cooler weather and changing leaves of fall. It’s the perfect time to go hiking and canoeing in the Canadian wilderness. Make plans now to enjoy the great outdoors when the temperatures are pleasant. Find some beautiful Canadian coins for sale that reflect the beauty of autumn to remind you of those memories you make. 2013 Canada $20 Autumn Bliss Fine Silver Coin This $20 coin features the stunning colours of fall set against a…
Canadian Proof Set Featuring Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell truly transformed communication and the audio capabilities we still use today. His invention of the telephone and refining of the phonograph paved the way for millions of people to speak and hear each other across time and space. He also made future inventions possible, such as the radio, earphones, and record players. The circumstances of his early life were unique, spurring him on toward the person he eventually became. The Royal Canadian Mint has chosen to honour him with a special edition proof set to celebrate 175 years since his birth. Bell’s Birth and Early Life Alexander…
Canadian Coins Featuring Underwater Life in Canada
Canada is home to more lakes and ponds than any other country in the world. Water borders many of Canada’s provinces, from rivers and streams to lakes and oceans. Water is important to our economy. Canadians canoe and fish when the weather permits. Ice skating and hockey are popular winter sports around water. The love of water is ingrained into our very nature. Here are six sets of coins from the Royal Canadian Mint that highlight water creatures. Celebrating Underwater Life in Canada From the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and all the two million lakes in between, there…
A Look at Some Royal Canadian Mint Coins Featuring the Majestic Bison
Strong, powerful, imposing, significant, and majestic are just a few of the adjectives typically used to describe the bison. The largest and heaviest land animal in Canada, the bison is sometimes referred to as “buffalo,” but this is a misnomer as true buffalo species only live in Asia and Africa. The bison plays a vital role in Canadian geography, history, and culture. The Royal Canadian Mint has acknowledged its contribution in the past with multiple commemorative coins featuring its likeness. In 2022, it honours the bison further with a new $30 coin made of pure silver. A Keystone Species A…
Learn More About the Royal Canadian Mints New Coin Featuring the Ghost Ship
New Commemorative Coin Features Legendary Ghost Ship For at least 100 years, people in the Maritime Provinces along Canada’s Atlantic coast have reported seeing a mysterious apparition out on the water. People report seeing a sailing ship with three or four masts. The sails, and sometimes the entire ship, appear to be on fire. Most sightings occur off the shore of Northumberland and in Chaleur Bay. When people have sailed out to aid what appears to be a ship in distress, it seems to vanish. Many stories have developed in an attempt to identify the ghost ship, and scientific explanations…
Visions Of Canada Silver Coin Released in 2022
Introducing the 2022 Visions of Canada Silver Coin Canada is a vast nation with a varied landscape. Wherever you travel in the country, whatever the season, you can see breathtaking vistas. The rich variety of landscapes is part of what makes Canada special and unique, but it presented a challenge to the Royal Canadian Mint when it set out to create a coin that celebrates the nation’s rich biodiversity. The RCM found an artist that could meet the challenge in Canadian artist Claire Watson, and the result was the Visions of Canada silver coin, released in 2022 and now among…
