Community Voice Responses (Sept. 19, 2017)

From the Aug. 25 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Are you interested in Canadian commemoratives?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

Yes. I buy all of the three to five silver one dollar coins that are released each year. I don’t collect the painted, gilded or other varieties of the basic coins. I’ve been buying these coins directly from the (Royal) Canadian Mint since they were first released in 1971 and think they make a beautiful and affordable collection.

Gary Werner
St. Louis, Mo.

Yes, I’m interested in Canadian commemorative coins. However, the coins are usually too expensive and the RCM puts out too many of them. So I pick and choose the ones I really want and sometimes wait until I can find them on the secondary market for a lower cost.

Ernesto Aguilar
North Hollywood, Calif.

Our friends at the Canadian mint can teach a few things to the U.S. Mint. I started buying Canada silver Christmas $20 coins some time ago. Affordable and beautiful. All coins should be made of silver. They even sold Superman and Star Trek coins. Again, at an affordable price. Beautiful coins.

The best buys are the $20 silver coins that sell for $20 U.S. currency. I plan to take vacation in Canada and spend those $20 coins. I also like to leave as a tip for the waitress when I dine in Canada at Epcot.

Dom Cicio
Groveland, Fla.

To a certain degree, yes, as I do keep up with their annual mintages anyway. I was brought into coin collecting when, as an 8-year-old, I noticed that a new 1959 Canada 50 cents (silver .800 fine, then) was different from a 1958 coin. “A MARE USQUE AD MARE” (from sea to sea) was the motto added. We were celebrating the Oregon centennial and, being a curious second-grader, I was starting to notice differences and their meanings.

Wesley Ellis
Portland, Ore.

Yes, I am interested in Canadian commemorative coins. The Royal Canadian Mint produces wonderful coins for the collector. They employ cutting-edge technology and are frequently innovative with design and features. The current celebration of 150 years of Canadian Federation has led to the minting of many special coins. The centennial celebrations of 50 years ago featured one-year designs of circulating coins that are still fresh today. If anything, Canada produces too many commemoratives for the average collector to accumulate annually.

Timothy Scharr
Aviston, Ill.

I really like the Canadian coins that I have bought from the Canadian mint. They are attractive, fresh in design and easy on the pocketbook to purchase. I also like the U.S. Mint and have bought many of their coins.

Marion Zaborney
Clifton, N.J.

As for me, I have enough problems with keeping up with U.S. coins. I wish our friends to the north well, but the only Canadian coins I have ever bought were two rolls of the last cents issued. Keeping up with our Mint gives me too much to do, for I never know what our Mint is going to do. They always keep us guessing as to what is up their sleeves. Share and enjoy the hobby.

Leo Darmstadter
Vineland, N.J.

To a degree, I used to be interested. Recent years have sidetracked me from this area. I may still get something, depending on design. I have been looking at artistic beauty over the years. Price may be a factor, but secondary.

Gary Kess
Sherman, Texas

I’ve been buying many of the wildlife themed Canadian commemorative coins. They put out too many high-priced coins for my budget, but some of their one-ounce silver bullion coins use wildlife themes and are quite affordable.

Simcha Kuritzky
Address withheld

I do not collect Canadian coins.

Victor Sartoris
Address withheld

Growing up in eastern Maine in the ’60’s and ’70’s, Canadian coins circulated right along with U.S. coins.

I was collecting Canadian coins right along with U.S. So yes, I am interested, and the U.S. Mint needs to take some pointers from the Canadians.

Mike White
Address withheld

I like many of the Canadian coin designs and innovations. In the past, I have purchased some of them. However, at the outrageous prices they charge, I am no longer interested.

Name withheld

This article was originally printed in Numismatic News. >> Subscribe today.

More Collecting Resources

• Check out the newly-updated Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date that provides accurate identification, listing and pricing information for the latest coin releases.

• Start becoming a coin collector today with this popular course, Coin Collecting 101.