Jim Szeplaki

Silver’s late-year surge has sent a jolt through Canada’s collecting and bullion communities, with prices accelerating at a pace few anticipated only weeks earlier. After starting December near the low $80 range, silver powered through key resistance levels, reigniting conversations about market momentum, melt values and the long-term implications for collectors.

A unique electrotype tied to Canada’s most celebrated numismatic rarity – the 1911 silver dollar – is set to cross the auction block this month, offering collectors what specialists describe as the closest private-market link still available to the legendary coin known as the “Emperor.” The piece, catalogued by Heritage Auctions as an Imposing George V 1911 Dollar Electrotype, is believed to be the only complete example known and carries a pre-sale estimate of $100,000–$120,000 US ahead of its Jan. 12 appearance in the firm’s New York International World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session.

The bullion market is under pressure, and the effects are beginning to ripple through both dealer networks and collector behaviour. In the latest issue of Canadian Coin News(V64N02), released March 31, industry veteran Michael Findlay outlines how volatility, tightening liquidity and refining delays are reshaping the way gold and silver are bought and sold.

The first offering from the late Geoffrey Bell’s medal collection is set to headline an upcoming Geoffrey Bell Auction, bringing to market a remarkable selection built over decades by one of Canada’s most respected numismatists.

Ancient coins are attracting a new wave of global collectors, with demand for rare and high grade pieces remaining strong even as the market stabilizes following pandemic-era highs. Once the domain of traditional collectors, the sector is now drawing increased interest from investors and younger buyers, particularly in technology-driven markets. Dealers report growing demand from both North America and Europe, pushing prices for premium material to new levels.

For 50 years, the Royal Canadian Mint’s Winnipeg facility has quietly powered Canada’s circulation coinage while supplying coins to more than 80 countries around the world. What began in 1976 as a bold Prairie expansion project has evolved into one of the world’s most sophisticated minting operations.

Gold and silver prices are continuing to swing wildly as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran send shockwaves through global commodity markets and drive oil prices sharply higher. The latest phase of the conflict began in late February following co-ordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets, adding fresh uncertainty to already volatile bullion markets.

For most collectors, the RCNA Convention begins when they walk onto the bourse floor. For Jeff Wilson, it never really ends. As the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association's volunteer bourse chair, Wilson spends virtually every day of the year working behind the scenes to help organize Canada's premier numismatic event. From dealer recruitment and table assignments to floor plans and logistics, his work helps ensure hundreds of collectors enjoy a successful convention.

A remarkable piece of Western Canadian history headlines the latest issue of Canadian Coin News as an 1870 Hudson’s Bay Company promissory note issued at Fort Garry takes centre stage in The Canadian Numismatic Company’s official 2026 RCNA Convention auction in Winnipeg. Bearing a May 1870 Fort Garry transit handstamp, the note offers a tangible connection to the dramatic period surrounding the Red River Settlement and the transfer of Rupert’s Land to Canada.

Every year, hundreds of medals, trade notes, wooden tokens, souvenir notes and other numismatic collectibles are issued across Canada. Many are produced in small quantities, quickly disappearing into private collections before anyone records their existence.