What You Need to Know About Identifying Rare Coins from Canada

What You Need to Know About Identifying Rare Coins from Canada
Canadian gold and silver coins produced by the Canadian Mint have a long and storied history that offer collectors and investors alike with some great options; however, there are a few Canadian coins due to their value and rarity that coin collectors and coin investors seek to add to their coin collections. Here’s what you need to know about identifying rare coins from Canada.

Identify unique aspects of your Canadian coins that dictate their rarity. The rarity of a coin is dependent upon the age and how many were minted. There are two scales upon which rarity can be assessed. These include the Sheldon scale and the Universal Rarity Scale. The mintage of the coin, or the number of coins produced, is taken into consideration by both scales. Carefully examine gold and silver coins from Canada. There are plenty of gold and silver coins that have been produced throughout the history of Canada. A number of rare Canadian coins were minted in the late 19th century and early 20th century, where precious metals were used in the production process. Rare Canadian coins include silver Canadian dollars (1911) and Canadian gold coins (1912-1914). Coin collectors hold these specific coins in high regard because of their age, small quantity, and composition.

Acquaint yourself with Canadian error coins. Error coins from Canada are considered rare, as production ceased as soon as the error was discovered. One example of a rare Canadian coin is the 1911 George V coin, where an abbreviation is missing from the coin. Other lesser known errors were produced in other years, so be sure to carefully inspect your coins for any anomalies.

Study coin rarity scales and look for the ones that feature rare and unique Canadian coins. The Sheldon scale and the Universal Rarity Scale both provide the rarity numbers of Canadian coins. There are eight rarity categories on the Sheldon scale, while the Universal Rarity Scale has 20 categories. The higher ranking a certain coin receives on a scale, the rarer it is. The scales can be accessed for free online.

Visit a coin dealer. Choose a coin dealer that has extensive experience and longevity in the coin industry; one specifically that has experience with Canadian and rare coins. He or she should be able to assist you with identifying rare Canadian coins.

Now that you are aware of the requirements for identifying rare gold and silver coins from Canada, it's time to implement the following process. Identify unique attributes of Canadian coins. Following the identification steps highlighted above, carefully examine gold and silver Canadian coins, looking for any anomalies that might indicate that you have an error coin. Conclude the process by studying coin rarity scales and visiting a coin dealer to increase your knowledge of such coins. Atlanta Gold & Coin Buyers