Introduction (cont.)

We must also consider that as we begin the 21st century we will undoubtedly be entering a new era in Canadian numismatics. The Canadian Numismatic Association has achieved its' 50th anniversary and regrettably we lose a few of our most senior and active members every year. Auction catalogues record for posterity the numismatic achievements of many of these individuals. While it is difficult for anyone to predict how the next millennium will unfold, I can confidently predict that we will never again see collections such as those formed by John J. Pittman, the Norwebs, J.D. Ferguson, Fred Bowman and Leslie Hill just to name a few. Some of these collections have appeared at auction; others have not. Some were either sold privately to other collectors or dealers; others have been placed in institutions for the enjoyment of all of those interested in numismatics. For example, the J.D. Ferguson collection, which was undoubtedly the largest private collection in Canada, resides almost entirely in the Bank of Canada Currency Museum today. Unfortunately, the collection was never catalogued so it is impossible to know for certain exactly which pieces came from this historic collection.

Having said all of this, today's collectors are living in a truly magical time. Like the splendid illusions of Houdini, magnificent collections briefly appear before our eyes, only to disappear quickly again into the ether where certain individual pieces could remain hidden for perhaps the next quarter-century or possibly longer. No sooner is one landmark sale over than another one is announced to whet our appetites. One cannot doubt, however, that collections such as those cited above will never be re-assembled again. It would be impossible for all of the conditions that contributed to the formation of these truly historic collections to reoccur. The days of buying pre-confederation tokens by the pound or finding 1948 silver dollars in pocket change are long gone and all but forgotten. There are also many more serious collectors today than there was fifty years ago which results in a greater demand for the most spectacular or scarce pieces.

Adding to this increased collector population is the variety of texts and manuals which are available today. Because of this, the modern collector is much more astute and knowledgeable than his/her predecessors were. We are constantly bombarded with messages of untold fortunes to be found in old coins and antiques on television, radio and in newsprint. As a result, many uninformed people unrealistically expect that every old coin is worth a fortune, with no regard to the relevant factors that affect a coin's market value - namely supply, demand, relative rarity and condition. An increase in collectors/investors, the availability of more and better numismatic literature, and a greater awareness by the general public will certainly cause many key pieces to become even less available in twenty years than they are today. Whether this will mean that coin prices will continue to spiral upwards at the same exponential rate they have experienced over the past thirty years remains yet to be seen. Having said this, should an individual collector continue to purchase the best quality coins he/she can afford (particularly those coins they like or have an interest in) there is certainly no reason to doubt that they will be amply rewarded through their enjoyment of the hobby at least, if not monetarily.

The general collector of the past is practically extinct. Most modern collectors already have been or will be forced into collecting niches due a lack of financial resources or the unavailability of key pieces in their chosen field. These collectors will eventually abandon their interests in general numismatics and seek to master a particular specialized field, either through original research or simply collecting. Auction catalogues are destined to become the standard - if not the only - references for many of the specialized fields of interest that will undoubtedly appear in the future.

I sincerely hope that this publication upon completion will prove to be a very valuable tool for anyone seriously interested in developing an appreciation for numismatic literature and Canadian numismatics specifically. As it is still a work in progress comments are not only welcome but would also be appreciated. Additional appendixes and an index will also be included, with information on collections, collectors and numismatic organizations which it is hoped will make this work even more useful.

One thing that is very evident from this listing is that a great deal of Canadian numismatic information has been published - especially in view of our country's relative youth. While we should gratefully acknowledge the milestones that have been achieved by numismatic authors over the last century and a half, we must not allow ourselves to become complacent. Rather, we should incorporate a critical cynicism into our research methodology and seek to verify information that has been previously published. A lot of work remains to been done in every field of Canadian numismatics and many mysteries remain unsolved. Even information on numismatic items issued in late 20th century will soon be forgotten if individuals do not take the time to report the known facts now. Perhaps this listing will inspire new authors to accept the challenges presented and in that way Canada's numismatic story will continue to be recorded for future generations.

Unfortunately, it was impossible to list every single article ever published on Canadian numismatics. I have striven to include only those that contain significant material either in quantity or content, and have not included some articles of human interest. For example, those individuals interested in the annual conventions of the Canadian or American Numismatic Association should refer to the appropriate volume of the Journal of the Canadian Numismatic Association or The Numismatist. Also, information on various local coin clubs (particularly details regarding speakers, programs and exhibits at monthly meetings) was published regularly in the Journal particularly from the 1950s to the 1970s. While this material has not been incorporated into this listing, some people may find it very interesting to read these summaries. They record the development of organized numismatics in Canada and provide valuable insights into many of the principal figures who have played such an important role in Canadian numismatics over the years. Who knows - perhaps the occasional numismatic tidbit may inadvertently be discovered along the way too.

In closing, I feel it is only appropriate to state that every effort has been made to eliminate errors from the listing. Nonetheless, despite our attempts, some factual and typographical errors will undoubtedly appear, as well as some errors of omission. It is my hope that the frequency of these errors will be very low and humbly beg for the reader's indulgence for those that do appear.