Collecting Canadian Coins
A good spot to find the first coins for your collection is right in your pocket. You could find some of the 25-cent coins the Royal Canadian Mint made for the Millennium.
Alternatively, the special 50-cent coin commemorating the Golden Festival of Queen Elizabeth II. Perhaps your parents or grandparents have some coins they could spare to help you start. Here’s another idea : Take your allowance to the bank and purchase a roll of coins, then keep the ones you want for your collection. Or take a look at the latest and coolest coins at the Mint’s internet site and start your collection with some ‘Royally Cool Money.’ whatever you choose, make efforts to keep your coins in a secure place – like in a tiny jar with a lid or ask your Mom or Dad to keep hold of them for you. And always remember, some of the most important and best coin collectors in Canada started with only a few pennies! Next – see what coins you have and make a list.
The professionals call this part “compilation.” To see if you have any good coins, take out a bit of paper – graph paper is best. On one side make a catalogue of years. Start anywhere you desire – 1900 or 1967 or perhaps the year Granddad or Grandmother was born. It’s up to you. Then check the dates on your coins and check off those years on the bit of paper. This might not sound like lots of fun, but you’d be shocked.
You might find a coin that is old or has some special mark on it that makes it worth a load more than you thought! Once you have assembled your list, now’s the time to classify and preserve your coins. This suggests putting the same sort of coin’s together – like, as an example, coins from the same year.
It’s best not to get rid of coins from their capsules because outside they are more subject to nicks and wear, which decreases the grade and worth. When handling numismatic coins, do so by their edges and only over a fabric pad so a random drop will not mark them. Dodge touching the coin pointlessly, as dust and grease from your fingers will taint the finish over time. Exposure to air oxidizes metal, changing its color. Though the aesthetics may change, price does not. The value of your coins remains the same without regard for color. Cleaning Coins can lose their lightness over time, and you can be persuaded to polish them.
The best recommendation is … DON’T. Probabilities are you’ll do more damage than good. The process of cleaning frequently leaves little scratches that show up under a magnifying glass and lower the value of the coin. Physical specs can be removed by careful washing with a hand soap and patting dry. Taint , called toning to collectors, does not lower the value of the coin. Though dips can take away the taint, they also remove any remaining mint lustre. The result is a coin with a diminished appearance and a lower price.
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