2003 C.N.A. Convention Windsor

50th Annual Convention July 17 – 20, 2003

Hosted by the Windsor Coin Club

Cleary International Centre

The following is a summary of the C.N.A. Convention that was held in 2003, hosted by the Windsor Coin Club.

The setting for the 2003 C.N.A. Convention that took place from July 17th to the 20th was the Cleary International Centre, located on Riverside Drive in the heart of downtown Windsor, two short blocks from Casino Windsor. The Convention floor as well as the adjacent hotel rooms overlook the Detroit River and the impressive Detroit skyline.

One of the featured tours was a romantic dinner cruise on the Detroit River past Hiram Walker (the home of Canadian Club Whiskey), Belle Isle, the GM Renaissance Towers and the Ambassador Bridge. The area is steeped in history from the early explorers -- LaSalle, Cadillac, et al, to the armies of the War of 1812, to the Fenian Raids of the 1860's, to the rum running days of the Prohibition Era that saw Al Capone, the Purple Gang and other infamous characters. The Prohibition Era coincidentally saw the introduction of some of Canada's rarest coins such as the 1921 five and fifty cent pieces, the 1922, 1923, and 1925 cents, the 1925 and 1926 nickels, the 1927 quarter, the 1932 half dollar in addition to the U.S. scarcities. A bonus for convention-goers was the nightly entertainment provided by world-renowned participants in the Molson’s International Jazz Festival held in a huge tent across the road from the convention site.

Some of those shiny new U.S. nickels in the pockets of smugglers are worth a small fortune today as many of the dates between 1920 and 1928 bring in hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars in uncirculated condition.

Awards

J. Douglas Ferguson Award

The J. Douglas Ferguson Award was established in 1969 and sponsored by Mr. Ferguson who, at the time, was Honorary President of the C.N.A. This annual award is presented to the living numismatist who has made the greatest contribution during the year to the advancement of numismatics in Canada by research, writing, publishing, or other means -- and who has not previously won the award. Mr. Ferguson set up an independent Board of Award with C.N.A. representation for the award administration. He made the selections for the 1969 and 1970 winners and determined that the board would choose the future winners from nominations made by C.N.A. members. Each year’s winner for this separately sponsored award is announced during that C.N.A. Convention. An award comes with a citation and the medal.

The J. Douglas Ferguson Award recipient was Harold Don Allen.

“Best of Show” Award

Each year the exhibits at RCNA Conventions are judged by a panel of volunteers assembled by Tim Henderson, Chairman RCNA Awards & Medals Committee. The exhibit judged to be the “Best of Show” is awarded this prestigious designation.

The Best of Show Award winner was Ted Leitch for his display "Cut & Countermarked.

Guy Potter Literary Award

The Guy Potter Literary Award was established when the original C.N.A. Literary Award was renamed in 1978 to honour the memory of Guy R.L. Potter, one of the founders of the Canadian Numismatic Association. Mr. Potter served as Secretary and Bulletin Editor of the association from its beginning in 1950 until 1953 and as the third President of the C.N.A. from 1955 – 1956.

The Guy Potter Literary Award is given annually for the article chosen by the committee as the best original contribution, in that year, to the Canadian Numismatic Journal. The selection is judged on the basis of literary style, numismatic worth, originality and general interest. An engraved plaque is given to the author of the winning article.

The Guy Potter Literary Award recipient was Mark Holton for his article “James Conder and his Tokens 1789-1797.”

Jerome H. Remick III Literary Award

The Jerome H. Remick III Literary Award was established in 1995 and its sponsorship continues through a bequest by Mr. Remick who was an active member of the C.N.A. and a well-known author of numismatic articles. This award is given annually to the author of the best numismatic article published in a local Canadian coin club newsletter during the previous calendar year. The award process is administered by the RCNA and the nominations made by members are submitted to a panel of RCNA officials for judging. The award is an inscribed bronze medal, which is presented to the winning author during the next year's RCNA Convention.

The Jerome H. Remick III Literary Award recipient was Ken Cameron for his 3-part article “Early Canadian Private Notes” published in three issues of the London Numismatic Society Newsletter.

Local & Regional/National Newsletter Awards

Every year the RCNA recognizes the efforts of member clubs and associations. An award is given for the best newsletter published by a local coin club and also for the best newsletter published by a regional or national association. To participate to the selection, clubs must send samples of their newsletter to the RCNA Club Services Chairman.

The recipient of the Best Local Newsletter Award for the calendar year 2002 was the Societe Numismatique de Quebec, while their editor, Pierre Minguy, was presented with the Best Local Coin Club Bulletin Editor Award. Their bulletin has won several C.N.A. Newsletter Awards in the past and is published 10 times per year with 250 pages produced during 2002.

The recipient of the Best Regional/National Newsletter Award for the calendar year 2002 was the Canadian Paper Money Society, while their Editor, Robert Graham of Pembroke, Ontario, was presented with the Best Regional/National Newsletter Editor Award. In announcing the winner, Bill Waychison, RCNA Club Services Chairman, stated that this well illustrated interesting, informative and scholarly quarterly publication displays a high degree of “diversity of content” within a specialty field. Topics covered include government issued currency; corporate and privately issued notes; cheques and other negotiable paper; features on issuing institutions and their principals prefixes, replacement and serial numbers on notes; auction and special vent news, etc.

A special Editor’s Award of Merit was presented to Claude Bernard, Editor of Apprentp’tits Numismates, not only for its exceptional content but also incorporating colour. It is currently published in French only and is geared towards junior collectors. The organization was established in 2001 as a not for profit organization that works in cooperation with schools, coin clubs and numismatists to promote numismatics among youth. The main objective of the organization is devoted to offering workshops and other presentations at schools or at numismatic events. Contents of the newsletter are nicely varied and feature introductory articles; reports from various school clubs, coin quizzes, and updates on projects that have included essay contests and contests for designs of coins, medals and notes. Colour-illustrated checklists have described all Euro circulation coins, a check list of countries that currently issue paper notes and their US$ exchange rates and an illustrated type list of Canadian 20- and 15-cent coinage.

Louise Graham Memorial Club of the Year Award

The Louise Graham Memorial Club of the Year Award was established in 1986 to honour the memory of this member who was the C.N.A. General Secretary from 1954 until her retirement in 1971. The award is offered annually to RCNA member clubs entering a competition to acknowledge the club having made the most significant overall achievement on behalf of its members and of the hobby. Clubs entering this competition provide reports of their activities during the previous calendar year. These are judged on the basis of topics at meetings, originality of initiatives, educational and numismatic promotions, coin shows and consistency of meetings. A panel of judges announces its decision at the following year's RCNA Convention.

The Louise Graham Memorial Club of the Year Award recipient was the Edmonton Numismatic Society.

“Fellow of the R.C.N.A.” Award

In 1990, the Executive Committee of the C.N.A established a member service award: Fellow – Canadian Numismatic Association. To be recognized for this award a member of The Canadian Numismatic Association must have performed a worthy service judged to be of a direct benefit to the association. The Awards and Medals Committee chooses the recipients from nominations made by members. The committee then presents its choices, up to 5 each year, at the annual convention. An award of: Fellow of The Canadian Numismatic Association authorizes use of the letters, F.R.C.N.A. to follow the recipient’s name. The first awards were made at the 1991 C.N.A. Convention in Toronto, Ontario.

The member awarded Fellow of the C.N.A. was Dr. Marvin Kay, F.R.C.N.A.

President’s Awards

It is the RCNA President's prerogative to recognize supporters, whether individuals or corporations, for outstanding support of the Association. The special President's Awards consist of a special wall plaque or a uniface Convention medal, suitably engraved for the occasion. To give the presentation a large audience, they are presented either at the annual general membership meeting or at the Banquet, befitting the special occasion of the event. As is usually the case with all awards presented at the convention, the President’s Awards are not announced in advance.

Paul Winkler, Publisher, Trajan Publishing Corporation received a Presidential Award for their publication Canadian Coin News.