Did these begin in 1870? Which key dates should I look for? Does anyone know of a list that states all Canadian 25 Cent Pieces that are needed to have a complete collection?
A Few Tips on Collecting Canadian Quarters First of all, you need to decide on a budget. If you want to collect ALL of the 25 cent coins, that is going to include Specimen, Prooflike, and Mint State coins, and some really deep pockets. If you wanted to just stick with the silver pieces, you'll be starting with Queen Victoria in 1870 (unless you also collect the Maritimes) and ending with Queen Elizabeth in 1968, plus a few odd later silver strikings. Key dates in those series include 1871, 1875-H, 1880-H, 1885, 1886/6, 1893, 1906 Small Crown (Edward VII), 1915, 1927, and others. There are also tons of varieties. But what about the provinces, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, etc. Do you want to collect those as well? On the other hand, if you don't have a lot of money and time and connections, you could just start with the clad coins in 1968. But it sounds to me like you need to do some considerable research first. If you don't know how to grade and which are key dates and have a copy of the Haxby and Charlton guides to Canadian coins and know your way around the market, you are a sheep among wolves (and by this I mean no disrespect to anybody, it's true for any marketplace). For complete lists, you could also visit the PCGS Set Registry site and take a look at the various Registry Sets and their compositions. You might also consider joining the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (http://www.canadian-numismatic.org/index.php) if you get serious about this idea, and/or to subscribe to Canadian Coin News (http://www.canadiancoinnews.com. Get informed! Good luck and happy collecting! Best Regards,:hail: George
Wow, giorgio, thanks for the information! Seems I am quite unprepared for collecting Canadian coins. This will take time, but I'll do some research and collect what I can over time. I know I'm wanting to collect pre-1968, but sometime after 1870. Still not entirely certain what time period I'll start with, so it looks like I'll have to delve much deeper into research. Thanks so much for this useful information!
I'm certainly glad to help. We have been working in the Canadian market for some time now and it is really quite unlike the U.S. market, as one might expect. I think there are both more potential rewards and more pitfalls if you are a U.S. collector. Please don't hesitate to ask if I can help further. You are at the start of a long and rewarding journey! Best Regards, :hail: George
