Old Canadian 50 Cents, Canada Half- Dollar?

Question

I have an old canadian half-dollar, and it was dated 1999, i was just wondering what the value of it would be.. and i also have an old canadian dollar dated 1774-1999, which has a big boat on it.. its a bit bigger than the regular loonie... if anyone could help that would be greatly appreciated.. thanks:)

Answer 1

1 - Take your coin to a local coin dealer (trustworthy ones can be found - shop around). It never hurts to get a second opinion. They will be able to tell you so much more by evaluation the condition of the coins. They will also know the amount minted and what it is going for in today's market.

2 - Try posting pictures on this website (there are many experts here that can help you evaluate it - there also may be people willing to buy if you are trying to sell):
http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/default.asp

3 - Repost this question and include pictures. You can use websites like http://www.photobucket.com and include the link in your question.

Good luck!

P.S. You should not clean your coins. Most coin collectors see cleaning a coin as the equivalent of stripping down antique furniture and refinishing it.

When cleaning, the surface metal of the coin is often stripped. Anything used to scrub the coin will leave scratches (even 100% pure silk will leave hairline scratches). Most cleaning products will have some type of reaction with the coin's metal and the surface metal can also be removed in this manner.

Your best bet is to leave the coins alone. Cleaning the coin will leave traces - which can be found by the knowledgeable collector - who in turn will not buy the cleaned coin. Also if you ever wanted to send your coin into a grading company, they can recognize signs of cleaning and will send your coin back in a "cleaned" slab (also called a "body bag" in the coin world) - which is usually a greatly decreased value.

If you absolutely must must must clean your coins do not use the method described above as it will react with the metal in your coin. Use 100% acetone (do not use fingernail polish remover!). It must be 100% pure because other additives will react with the coin metal. Place your coin(s) in the solution for several minutes (do not leave in for long periods of time). Rinse your coin(s) in distilled water. Next remove your coins and either pat dry with a soft cloth or allow the coin to air dry (air drying is better as you don't risk scratching the coin with the cloth). NEVER scrub your coins!

I would still advise you to leave your coins as they are. They may not be bright and shiny but that is what most collectors prefer.

Answer 2

In Mint State it sell for around a dollar or less. It is not a rare coin nor is it actually old. Now the other item is called a trade dollar and is actually a token.The trade dollars of Canada are a part of their culture more than they are in the U.S. City's, towns and organizations in Canada celebrate events with a trade dollar that is usually good from one date to the next and is also usually on the token. Some where on the token it must state what event in 1774 it is commemorating in 1999. I kind of fell of the tokens when I visited Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. I learned a lot about Canadian history from them. Here in the states places like Deadwood S.D. and western areas issue them as well as sites from colonia times. They usually sell for a few dollars. The older ones sell for more than the 1999 ones.

Answer 3

The price of gas in Canada has nothing to do with the exchange rate. While it is true, we are one of the largest holder of oil reserves in the world, we do not possess the refining capacity of the U.S. and thus our costs to have refined are higher.Plus, you must remember that 1 U.S. gallon is only 4/5ths of the old Imperial gallon and our metric system goes on our old imperial system and not the equivalent in the U.S.