Three of the special coins released during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. (Photo Courtesy Chris Brown)

By Chris Brown

Fall show on Sept. 24

Collector reflects on Queen Elizabeth II’s coin legacy

Sep 16, 2022 | 2:12 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – For nearly 70 years the likeness of Queen Elizabeth II has graced Canadian currency and stamps.

“Go back to ’53 on pennies and nickels, dimes, quarters. There’s millions or trillions of coins out there with her face on it,” says Ron Schmidt, president of the Medicine Hat Coin & Stamp Club.

Schmidt says eventually that will change when the regular circulation coins featuring King Charles III are rolled out. He says that could be as early as the 2023 coins.

For now, collectors are watching the demand and value of some of the rarer bills – like the infamous $20 1954 devil’s face run or a recent $20 bill with the queen’s emblem in the hologram space – and special edition coins rise.

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“They really start to stand out on her diamond jubilee, the golden jubilee and things of that, you know her 80th birthday, her, you know, 50 years of reign,” Schmidt says. “Seventy years of reign here just this spring they put out a coin which is very popular and that one there they only minted 5,000 coins the original price was $69 and I just looked on the eBay and internet that coin is now reaching $250 to $600.”

He says the sky’s the limit on how high the value of some bills and coins could go.

Schmidt adds the Royal Canadian Mint will release a coin in the coming weeks commemorating the Queen’s passing

He and other collectors will have plenty of items featuring Her late Majesty at their fall show on Sept. 24 under the Stampede grandstand. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NOTE: This story has been updated after a change of venue.