Memories from 40 years in the stamp and coin business
by Brian Grant Duff
2007 at All Nations and The Bay
Joined Facebook to help promote our business and hobby.
Vancouver 2010 Olympic coin program began. The Bay and the Mint were Olympic sponsors but I was not an authorized Olympic coin dealer. Even though Vanoc workers were buying Vancouver 2010 coins from us, the Olympic brand demanded we stop selling Vancouver 2010, and all other Olympic coins. As a longtime Mint coin seller and Bay associate, I kicked up a fuss, then complied since our lawyer clients advised the Olympics would break me. Neither the Bay nor the Mint were supportive. Joe Iorio and Charles Moore offered their unconditional support if I decided to keep selling Olympic coins.
The Year of the Pig stamps came with decorative foils. A find missing the foils appeared in Ottawa and they became a popular error. Unfortunately, the foils could be removed by applying heat. John Jamieson gave rebates to clients, including us, when the error value fell.
A couple showed up with a 1923 $2 banknote signed Edward P, claiming it had been given to a family member who was the prince’s equery on the royal visit to Canada. The serial number was 1, so their story was plausible. The problem was the rare signed note was blackened from soot, bed bug scat, or mould. I tried to get them to leave it while I checked provenance, and clear title, but they refused. Years later it turned up, looking brand new, in an upstate New York auction. It sold for $50,000.
Part 1 of Brian’s 40 years in the business can be found here
Future episodes will be in our Friday update. Sign up here
