Canadian types - business strike - specimen - proof - proof-like ... HELP!

Compa

Ok, I'm getting frustrated by all the various strikes that the Canadian mint produces. The US mint is getting as bad with its new satin finish.

I know that in the end the only person I need to please with my collection is myself but I hate it when I get 'educated' later and start to see problems with my collections. I've been putting together a type set of Canadian coinage and there are some things available only as business strikes others only as Proof, Specimen or Proof-like. But on some they are available in 2, 3 or more types. What to collect? And in some cases, how to tell the difference!

Someone who knows the stuff please speak up.

docday2003

<< <i>Ok, I'm getting frustrated by all the various strikes that the Canadian mint produces. The US mint is getting as bad with its new satin finish.

I know that in the end the only person I need to please with my collection is myself but I hate it when I get 'educated' later and start to see problems with my collections. I've been putting together a type set of Canadian coinage and there are some things available only as business strikes others only as Proof, Specimen or Proof-like. But on some they are available in 2, 3 or more types. What to collect? And in some cases, how to tell the difference!

Someone who knows the stuff please speak up. >>



business strike is the regular coinage issued for circulation

docday2003

proof-like is the mint issued equivalent of the business strike for collectors. The only problem here is that often the coins are distinguishable from the real business strikes.

docday2003

specimen originally was the term given to the coins that were issued instead of proof coins. The idea was that the Royal Canadian Mint was a branch mint of the British Mint, and thus was unable to mint coins to their proof standard, so the specimen was the best that the RCM could issue. When the RCM became its own mint, it continued to produce specimens, and also proofs. The difference now is that the proofs are no longer base metal coins.

docday2003

For more than this very superficial look at Canadian coins, do a search here for more information. You may need to go to the discussions page, and click on search.

Compa

Thanks for the outline of the various types but what I was wanting to know was; if one is putting together a collection of a single example of each design used in Canadian coins what would be the preferred type of strike to collect given that there are usually more than one or two strike types available. I think I would prefer not to mix the strike types for a more uniform looking collection. But this may not be possible or even desirable. This is where I was looking for advise.

docday2003

<< <i>Thanks for the outline of the various types but what I was wanting to know was; if one is putting together a collection of a single example of each design used in Canadian coins what would be the preferred type of strike to collect given that there are usually more than one or two strike types available. I think I would prefer not to mix the strike types for a more uniform looking collection. But this may not be possible or even desirable. This is where I was looking for advise. >>



Well, I think it would be presumptuous to tell you what to collect...but what I collect are the business strike coins because of the challenge to get them in high grade. On the other hand some of the specimens are very sharp looking. The idea of buying a coin which was specifically made to be collected has never appealed to me. Whereas collecting a coin which was taken from circulation, and carefully preserved for years/decades/centuries is tres cool IMHO.

ColinCMR

With the Elizabeth II stuff, it is hard to set the boundaries and stick with it for a Canadian coin collection. Or at least that is what I have found.

Proof Like, is the RCMs really nice business strike I guess. They are sold in sets annually, called the uncirculated sets or commonly called proof like sets by collectors and dealers. For some years there are 2 or 3 different sets to collect. The Winnipeg mintmark (W) coins are available in PL sets only,

Specimen sets are sold as sets annually, and they usually have a combed and refined look to it. Kinda wierd but looks nice for sure. Some recent 1 dollar coins are only available in this strike, and you have to break up a set to get one. So it's hard to decide if you want to include these in your collection or not.

Now, each year since 1999/2000 there have been issues of P mintmark and no-mintmark lower denomination coins. The P mark (plated coins) are available in the PL sets AND in circulation. However, the no P mintmark coins are only availbale through circulation. Weird eh. Also, 1999 P mark coins were only available in a mint set.

On top pf that, there's tons of commemoratives to play with. And also NCLT too.

So you have to think about it to define your collection for Canadian stuff, depends on what you want and on how the mint changes things up over time. This may be the reason why the older Canadian stuff is rocketing in price, just a thought.

Compa

And I guess it is compounded by the commemorative issues that are not released in a business strike. Maybe I'll collect butterflies instead.

It is a bit confusing with some coins issued in one or two different types of strikes and other coins available only in a different combination of strike types. The changes of what strike types are offered by the mint over the years combined with it being difficult to discern what type strike a coin is from simply looking at it make for fun. Now if they will just join with the US mint and start offering the satin finish coins it will complete the confusion.