2016-07-27 Wed

The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association convention at Ottawa showcased military payment certificates, centennial coins and old Canadian Tire money. The convention's organizer Serge Pelletier, a member of the Society of Bearded Numismatists started collecting when he was young by keeping his father's leftover travel money.

James Williston, a member of the Canadian Association of Wooden Money Collectors and the Canadian Tire Coupons Collectors Club started collecting in Montreal in 1967 when the currency changed for Canada's centennial. He stopped collecting once he joined the university. He resumed his hobby again in his 40s and gained special interest in collecting obscure Canadian Tire money — a rare yellow replacement bill worth $2,000.

Pelletier was looking out for coins of the War of the Spanish Succession in the early 18th century. A challenge was organised for young coin collectors to find 1943-45 "victory coin." These old coins feature a torch and the roman number V. The winner of the challenge would receive a gold coin.