Last updated on July 7th, 2020 at 12:02 pm
Last Updated on July 7, 2020 Posted by Colonial Acres Coins
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have affected almost every aspect of daily life. The coin collecting world has been impacted just like other industries. However, these impacts have brought on some new character to numismatist communities in Canada. The disruption of normal operations could offer collectors a chance to get more out of their passion.
Events Cancelled
Several major events were cancelled as a result of the epidemic and public health concerns. Perhaps the most notable was the Edmonton Coin Show and Sale that was scheduled for March. The announcement was made a mere two days before the event’s start. Undoubtedly, organizers were hesitant to close an event of that magnitude.
Other shows that were cancelled include the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association annual convention and the Ontario Numismatic Association annual convention. These were planned for July and May, respectively. However, both will be skipping a year due to COVID-19. Several smaller and U.S.-based events have similarly been cancelled.
These events are more than just gatherings of enthusiasts. They include some of the most significant commercial activity for collecting the coins of Canada. Therefore, the pandemic has had a clear slowing effect on the numismatic community throughout the world.
The Impact on the Coin Collecting Community of Canada
Unsurprisingly, being unable to easily gather or welcome people to showrooms has caused a slowing-down of many of the traditional mechanisms of coin collecting. This field has always been one with a lot of face-to-face interaction. However, the pandemic and lockdowns have caused people to have to rethink. Perhaps the most notable change has been the increase in e-commerce activity. People are still able to find noteworthy coins by browsing online catalogues such as ours at Colonial Acres Coins. Additionally, there are online auctions that can help sellers and buyers connect.
Additionally, many collectors are connecting digitally with each other. There is no reason to stop talking about and enjoying this shared passion. Individuals and groups are substituting the normal lineup of in-person gatherings with online events. The impact of COVID-19 on coin collecting has been substantial. However, it has not brought everything to a halt. Instead, it has changed the character of the field.
Things Collectors Can Do During COVID-19
Coin collectors can still buy even during lockdowns. In fact, if you have extra time on your hands, this may be the perfect opportunity to delve into numismatics.
One of the best activities is reacquainting yourself with your collection. Many people who have been collecting for years have a tendency to focus primarily on the latest acquisition. This is a great chance to take a walk down memory lane and to think about all the items in your collection that are meaningful.
Another possible activity is to get more organized. Catalogue your collection and ensure that everything is stored and displayed properly. Again, this is an opportunity to revisit older acquisitions and give them due care and attention.
If you have not yet engaged in the online world of coin collecting, this is a great chance to explore. You can find many interesting and desirable coins of Canada listed for sale and/or auction right now. Such activity is a great tool to add to your coin collecting belt. Even as things get back to normal, e-commerce can provide another way to find collectibles.
Even our staff have had to learn how to run the day to day operations smoothly with so many restrictions. Here are some personal reflections from a few of our team members on how they have coped and are working through these unique times.
Kirk Parsons:
As the pandemic continues to restrict many businesses from conducting business as “usual”, we here at Colonial Acres Coins had to change gears a little to focus on what we can do within our safety limits. The “good old days” of having our 3 buying rooms full with people eagerly awaiting the results of their appraisals on a daily basis has come to a screeching halt. As we look for safer ways to continue this service to our customers to get a new “normal set in place”. We have been conducting curbside business through the building’s old ice cream take out window.
However, we are not serving up cold ice cream, as many of our customers may wish as we have been experiencing hotter than normal temperatures the past week. We have been able to utilize this section of our store to safely allow customers to drop off items to get appraised as they wait outside at a safe distance for us to complete their appraisal. As gold and silver have been performing extremely well over the past few months, we have a big demand for people looking to cash in on these new record-setting highs and we are here to help.
We have been offering curbside appraisals between 9:30 and 4:30 Mon to Fri. For larger collections or estates please call ahead and we can set up an appointment to safely handle your items and provide the best service possible for you. We look forward to seeing you, and hopefully, we will be able to re-open in the near future with updated safety precautions in place to keep us all safe and healthy. Sorry, no ice cream; you have to bring your own.
Tenesha Parsons:
Since COVID happened that auction department has been operating from home, items are typed, imaged, posted and ran live online from home. The system works by having a designated pick up and drop off location to exchange items for the next step in processing the auction items. COVID has presented many challenges for the business that I feel we met and exceeded to the best of our abilities given the circumstance, and of course, there were factors that we could not control; however, we were still able to keep moving forward and continue our auctions on schedule. I am extremely proud of the auction staff and all Colonial staff in the way in which they stepped up and got the job done regardless of the situation. The auction department has made record sales since this COVID pandemic and we continue to assist our customer the best way we can for as long as we are able.
Wendy Schell:
Currently, with the security measures and government rules, shipping (with a skeleton crew) at Colonial Acres has been challenging, but we’re managing to get through it as fast as we can, considering the volume of orders have increased substantially over the last 8 weeks – almost 25%! We thank our customers for their patience during this time.
Todd Sandham:
Colonial’s storefront in Kitchener is only open for curbside window service during this crisis. This allows our customers to still be able to pick up items and follow the government regulations for safety at the same time. In the next few weeks, we will be re-opening the storefront to walk-in traffic after we have added in all of the precautions needed to keep our staff and customers safe while visiting the store. When this occurs, we will only be allowing two customers in the store at a time and will have limited hours, while we slowly migrate all staff back to the office.
Jessy Henrichs:
Working from home has been a challenge, though working in pyjamas has been a comfortable change. From home, staff continue to answer the phones from 10 am to 3 pm EST, Monday to Friday, as well as process inventory and continue with day to day operations and online maintenance. Staff at home have been utilizing evenings and weekends to pick up and drop off processed inventory to continue to offer our customers great numismatic products! I, for one, can’t wait to go back to work in the office to escape my kids. Just kidding (not really)!
Explore Colonial Acres Coins’ Collection
If you want to continue to enjoy collecting the coins of Canada and other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, check out Colonial Acres Coins. We have an extensive catalogue with options for beginners and seasoned veterans. No matter whether you want an affordable gift or that rare item you’ve been dreaming of, we have something for you. Check out our shop and auction feature today.