Andre Bertran has collected coins for a quarter of his life.
“I can’t remember the first coin I got but it was my uncle’s coin collection that got me interested,” he said. “I kind of just got started by that.”
His focus, he said, is Canadian nickels from the ’20s.
At 12 years old, Bertran is one of the youngest members of the Scarborough Coin Club (SCC), which held its 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre.
Ancient coins, mint proofs, paper money and rare coins from all over the world and from various time periods were on display at the free event.
“Coins contain the history of a country, some commemorate events,” said Brian Lawrence, a 40-year collector and SCC member since 2002.
Some collectors, like Nick Cowan, prefer to specialize and focus on collecting coins from a specific country.
“When I was coming to Canada by ship, an American general gave me an almost mint condition 1900 Canadian quarter,” he said.
From that quarter came his hobby, Cowan said, but then he started dealing his spare coins so he could buy rarer coins and ones that fit his collection.
Like Bertran, Peter Machulec began collecting coins at a young age. He started when he was six, inspired by his father’s and grandfather’s collections, he said.
Today he’s the president of the SCC and is using his specialty in Polish currency to write a book illustrating coins depicting Pope John Paul II.
“I go to the [United] States maybe fifteen times a year for other coin shows,” Machulec said.
That determination is shared by Lawrence, who said he’ll never be finished his collection.
“It’s that hunt for that elusive coin that gets me,” he said.
The SCC, founded in 1975 by Ricky Morse, meets the first Wednesday of every month at Cedarbrook Community Centre.
The Scarborough Coin Club collectible, sold at the club’s 14th annual coin show at Cedarbrook Community Centre on Nov. 6. this year marks the club’s 35th anniversary.
Marty Lamoureux, treasurer for the Scarborough Coin Club, displays his toonie test coin, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint when testing production of the $2 coin for the first time. The club held its 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre.
Peter Machulec, president of the Scarborough Coin Club, shows off some of the awards and collectibles the club has accumulated since it’s founding in 1975. The club held its 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre.
Scarborough Coin Club president Peter Machulec shows off his Disney collectible money, which he purchased during a trip to Disney World, at the club’s 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre.
Norma Pieece holds a bag of coins she sold to young collectors to help them begin their new hobby at the Scarborough Coin Club’s 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre. She and her husband Kevin displayed coins from all over the world, including ancient common use coins.
Collector Nick Cowan displays mint condition quarter rolls at the Scarborough Coin Club’s 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre. The 2006 coin rolls have a resale value of $150, he says.
Collector Nick Cowan shows his radar note at the Scarborough Coin Club’s 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre. Cowan’s collecting started with a 1900 Canadian quarter given to him by an American general, he says.
Collector Nick Cowan’s radar bill, which features a serial number that’s the same front to back and back to front. He showed the note at the Scarborough Coin Club’s 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre.
Brian Lawrence shows two Canadian silver dollars worth $45 at the Scarborough Coin Club’s 14th annual coin show Nov. 6 at Cedarbrook Community Centre. Lawrence a club member since 2002, has collected for 40 years.
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