As 2020 draws ever closer to its conclusion, I thought it might be interesting to turn back the clock 50 years and have a look at what the
Royal Canadian Mint (
RCM) was up to back in 1970 in terms of numismatic/collector coins (vs. circulation coins).
There weren't many coins released specifically for collectors in 1970. Those that were released were collector versions of the coins in circulation (i.e., NIFC coins, not-intended-for-circulation coins). In fact, it would be fair to say that the
RCM did not release any non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins in 1970, just NIFC pieces.
The collector coins released were:
1. Nickel Dollar, Manitoba Centennial in a clamshell case, BU finish, $2.00 issue price
2. Nickel Proof-Like Set in plio-film sleeve and paper envelope, Proof-like finish, $4.00 issue price (included the Manitoba dollar coin)
3. Six-Coin Nickel Specimen Set in a long, narrow clamshell case, Specimen finish, $13 issue price (a very limited run of sets was produced as part of a market feasibility test by the
RCM and to provide PM Trudeau with a gift to give out during his 1970 trip to China; Charlton states that fewer than 1,000 sets were produced. I don't consider this set a "standard" release for the year, but have included it here for completeness as it was available, at least in a limited fashion, for sale to collectors in 1970.)
That's it - no proof dollars or sets (the
RCM didn't have the needed equipment yet), no silver coins, no gold coins, no platinum coins, no bedazzled coins of any kind, nothing but a trio of NIFC coins/sets of Canada's base metal circulation coins. It was certainly easier to keep track of the new releases in 1970 vs. today! (Not that I was a customer in 1970!)
I'm glad the
RCM moved beyond three collector issues in a year and expanded its range for collectors. The expansion has definitely brought many more collectors into the fold. My beloved 36 mm silver dollar series, for example, was one of the expansions; it launched in 1971! That said, I'm also glad that the
RCM has stayed true to its 2019 announcements and reduced the number of new coins it released in 2020. I hope the
RCM continues to limit its releases in the years to come - I don't believe we need to return to the average of one new coin release per day that we had just a few years ago.
Your thoughts?
If you'd like to learn more about a special version on the 1970 Manitoba dollar the
RCM created for Expo '70, have a look at my previous post here:
Manitoba Dollar Expo'70 Edition.
Posted 11/01/2020 12:08 pm
