For more than six decades, collectors from across Western Canada have gathered in Saskatoon for the annual Coin & Stamp Show. “There are still a lot of people that are interested in both coin and stamp collecting. The generation is getting a little bit older. So getting kind of the young people started involved in it’s a little bit harder because they like playing on their phones. But there is still a good core of coin collectors and stamp collectors in Saskatoon and area. So, we are able to keep the Saskatoon Coin Club going,” Richard, a member of the Saskatoon Coin Club, said. Hosted at the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation banquet hall, dealers, collectors, and those simply wanting to see the vast collections and talk about their hobby came by. “We get all kinds of conversations...in my case, mostly coins and the value of coins, varieties and talking about the history of coins. And you wouldn’t think that there’s a whole lot of history with coins, but there is an awesome amount of history to not only know about, but to learn,” Richard said. Cliff Beattie, former president of the Coin Club, added that for many, the interest in coins and stamps often comes from their historical significance. The time in which various pieces were produced often tells a story about the social, political, and economic circumstances within various countries. “It’s very historical. There’s always stuff you can learn about that. When the monarchs died, when the new ones came in. And plus, usually there’s something on the design of the coins or banknotes that are part of our history,” Beattie said. While coins have their face value, the actual value of rare and significant pieces is often changing. Beattie explained that collectors like to keep updated on the value of their collections, or pieces they’ve been searching for through annual publications. “There’s catalogues that are updated every year. The term catalogues are used by the coin people and it’s for coins, banknotes, tokens, medals, medallions,” Beattie said. More than 200 people visited the show over the weekend. Those in the Saskatoon Coin Club expressed that the organization is always welcoming new members who have an interest in either stamp or coin collecting. The free club encourages any prospective members to visit the Saskatoon Coin Club website.
