Canadian experts - question regarding specimen coinage

Casey

I just received the Charlton book and have some questions regarding specimen coinage. I read in a related post that specimens were generally not available for purchase by collectors prior to 1967. The mintages are generally unknown but are thought to be in the low 100's.

1) Are these coins actively collected by collectors or ignored? Ebay has current listings for specimens at less than 50% of the Charlton retail values with no takers.

2) Another previous post requested PCGS populations for a particular year for all Canadian specimens for each series, and the post was answered. I have access to the population reports, but I don't see a foreign section - only US coinage. Where is the Canadian population information located?

Thanks,
Casey

bosox

Yes, earlier specimans are actively collected, there just are not very many of them around. As an example, I have an 1858 cent in PCGS speciman 63 brown. Most knowledgeable dealers/collectors that I show it to ask if it is for sale (it's not).

At the recent TOREX auction in Toronto the following speciman large cents were for sale: 1858 PCGS SP-65 BN, 1876 (no H!) PCGS SP-64 RB, 1876H ICCS SP-65 RB; 1881H PCGS SP-65 RD. All went for sizeable sums of money.

The paper population report printed by PCGS does not have the Canadian pops printed. The on-line version (you have to be a Collectors Club member to access them) have Canadian coins included. Speciman pops are included after the business strikes.

Early Canadian specimans are wonderful coins. They are different critters from business strikes, but very much in demand nonetheless.

Rob

ajaan

I have an original 1946 Specimen Set. Mintages are unknown. The 1937 Specimen coinage is the most available of the early Specimen coins.

MyWorldCoinTypeSet

I am an active Specimen collector, see link.

Usually only the most common Specimen coins appear on eBay, such as 1937, 1947ml, 1949, and 1950. For these years, the catalog value may be a little high, or the coins are easy to find elsewhere and don't need to be purchased mostly sight unseen (scans can show some aspect of a coin, but not all).

Find me a nice 1947 (no ml) or 1945 Specimen nickel, and I'll easily exceed 50% of Charleton's.