Coins of Canada 1994

Dean Reeds is a freelance journalist in St Catharines.

A well-written introduction sets the scene for this book. Introductory
sections deal with basic aspects of Canadian coin collecting, such as
mints and mint marks, varieties, coinage dies, coin conditions, and
toning. Particularly useful for beginners are discussions on grading
coins, rarity, and value.

Then the guide gets down to the nitty-gritty. Included are decimals
from 1858, collectors’ issues, bullion issues, Ottawa Mint sovereigns,
pre-Confederation provincial and colonial issues, and French colony
issues. There are also sections dealing with Dominion of Canada and Bank
of Canada notes, and an easy-to-read bullion value chart for coins made
with gold or silver. Many colonial tokens are included with their token
numbers so collectors can further research their unusual pieces.

Thoroughly illustrated, the book includes multiple photographs of many
varieties. Descriptions accompany the illustrations of each coin. Often
very specific, these descriptions provide information on the history,
background, and value of pieces. Price listings contain mintage amounts;
bullion grades and weights are included, if applicable.

Coins of Canada is a good starting point for beginners and a handy
reference for advanced collectors.