Classic Canadian Coinage Commended to Collectors!

Heritage to Auction George V 50-Cent and 10-cent Pieces

Dallas, Texas: Canadian coinage is fast becoming a popular collecting area among numismatists, driven not only by the increasing value of the issues, but also by the inherent beauty of the coins themselves.

In 1858 and 1859, the first coins of the Province of Canada were issued. Prior to this, trader's tokens were commonly used in Canada, as there was a shortage of British coins. Originally, Province of Canada coins, bearing the image of Queen Victoria, were struck at the British Royal Mint in London, which issued 1 cent, 5 cent, 10 cent and 20 cent pieces. In 1870, the mint began the striking of the 50 Cent denomination. Canadian coins since 1908 have been struck at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, and all circulating coins have been struck in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the branch mint since its opening in the 1970s. All proof and special issues are still struck in Ottawa.

"Of all Canadian coins ever issued, perhaps the most storied is the 1921 50 Cents, often called 'The King of Canadian Coins,"' said Warren Tucker, Director of World Coin Auctions for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "This particular coin that we're offering in our upcoming auction, from the Pittman Collection, is totally original with wonderful rose-gold toning over lustrous surfaces with a single tiny mark by the bridge of George's nose."

"Pittman purchased this piece in September 1958 from C.C. (Tim) Shroyer for the then princely amount of $1,716," Tucker said. "Only the British Columbia $20 and the 1936 'Specimen' Dot Cent cost him more in his Canadian collection."

"The 1921 50 Cent piece is one of the coins, along with a 1936 Dot Cent, that was stolen in the robbery of Pittman's home in 1964," said Tucker. "It was later returned loose in an envelope with other coins, which is how it acquired the small mark by the bridge of the nose. Everyone who collects Canadian coins aspires to own a 1921 50 Cent. Few ever have the opportunity, however, and fewer still can say that have owed a notable coin such as the John Jay Pittman example."

"Every bit as fascinating is the 1936 'Specimen' Dot 10 Cents," Tucker continued, "which we are also proud to offer in our September auction. This stunning piece displays bold details with gold and charcoal patina over smooth surfaces. As with the coin from the legendary Belzberg collection, this coin does not have the protective lacquering seen on the 1936 Dot cents. When we offered the Belzberg collection several years ago, we mentioned that there are five know Dot 10 cents, all Specimens, two of which are permanently housed in the Bank of Canada Collection, and that one of the five was discovered in 2000 when it was sold by a mint employee to a private collector. This is the discovery coin from the mint employee and one of only three pieces that we can account for in private hands. This is, without a doubt, one of the true classic Canadian rarities, and a coin that any collector would be proud to own."

Heritage Auction Galleries will present both of these rare coins in their upcoming Signature Auction, to be held September 14 & 15, 2006 as the official auctioneer of the Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectible Expo, at the Long Beach Convention Center, 100 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA, 90802.

(Canada) George V 50 Cents 1921, Ex: John Jay Pittman Collection, KM25a, MS65 PCGS

(Canada) George V 10 Cents 1936 Dot, KM23a, Specimen 63 PCGS, Specimen 63 ICCS

The George V 50 Cents 1921, Ex: John Jay Pittman Collection, KM25a, MS65 PCGS. bears a pre-auction estimate of $100,000 - $125,000. The George V 10 Cents 1936 Dot, KM23a, Specimen 63 PCGS, Specimen 63 ICCS bears a pre-auction estimate of $125,000 - $150,000.

Images, descriptions, and prices realized from all of Heritage's previous auctions are available in the Permanent Auction Archives at the Heritage website, www.HA.com.

To reserve your copy of a catalog for any upcoming Heritage auction, please contact Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Auction Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272.