So, there I was, in the midst of compiling my U.S. year sets, when I decided to look through some random, circulated Canadian coins one of my Facebook friends sent me. And I was really drawn to this 1963 half. Something about the Canadian coat of arms, and the Laureate Portrait of the queen... So, then I started looking through my Charlton Catalogue again. I hadn't intended to collect any series, just year sets...but now I think I want to collect Canadian Halves from 1937-68 (I would just stop in '67 at the end of the silver era, but I was born in '68, so I'll include that one ). Any advice? Have I gone crazy?
It is certainly a great set to put together, and you will feel awesome when it's done.. Will you be hunting down varieties? There are ALOT for this series. I would like to encourage you to start at 1870. Those designs are killer, and I'd be willing to bet if you aren't interested in them right now... you will be when you are finished your set of 37 - 68 Sounds like an awesome challenge. Have fun What grades are you thinking?
Thanks for the encouragement. I was thinking I'd want to have the George VI series in at least AU, except for some of these varieties I see for 1946-49 (yikes!), and then at least MS-63 for the Elizabeth II series. I do like some of the pre-1937 halves, but I figured it would be less daunting to stay within this 30-year period... (My Facebook friend is in Alberta, too...Brooks.)
Yep 4 in all ; straight 7, curved 7, maple leaf straight 7 and finally maple leaf curved being the rares and cataloged at 1000$ in VG8 in Krause. 47 was a year for varieties, some of them being quite expensive.
Looks like there will be a few holes for me during that period. But it should be interesting. Any recommendations on coin folders? I like the look of the UniMaster, but the Dansco starts in 1937.
I only have one Canadian half...a 1943, I think, been a while since I looked at it. Very impressive coin. A little smaller then the US half. It sounds to me, like you are just getting a denominational head start on your year sets I too am working on Candian year sets, thanks to a friend of mine in Canada who gives me his pocket change when I see him. He never gets any halves though, so he can't give them to me.
Perhaps they were more in favour at one point before our generation? I use 50c pieces (modern nickel coins, not silver!) as tip money and more often than not is received with some surprise/curiosity. Here's a war-time 50c,
Help! I've fallen for silver Canadian Halves! Can you get up? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8wE6D98m1c&feature=related Nice pics Jello....
Hmmm -- the George V Halves of 1911-36 are pretty cool, too... Looking through the Charlton Guide further, I'm finding myself attracted to the halves of the George V era, as well as the 1937-68 coins I'd intended to collect. I just ordered two Gardmaster Canadian 50-Cent albums, one covering 1870-1952, and 1953-Present. My dilemma with the George V series is price (not even including, of course, the 1921, and probably not the 1932). I could afford to get some of the coins in VF grade, but others would have to be, say, F-12. And I don't know how these will look compared to the later coins, which I'll have in AU or MS grades.
