Coin-O-Rama

The Early Days of the Coin-O-Rama Shows

The mid-twentieth century was an exciting time to grow up. Yes we had those old tube style radios, black and white TV’s with rabbit ear antennas that drove you crazy as one had to continuously adjust them to get reception. There were no Atari, PlayStations or Wii consoles and computers, cell phones and tablets with Internet access did not exist.

What we did have were families that spent time together actively looking to stay busy. Hobbies, crafts and playing games were something of the norm during those times.

Numismatic supplies could be purchased at your local Woolco, Zellers, Woodwards, Simpson-Sears to name a few. Bookstores were in most every mall and were great places purchase your latest edition of the Charlton Catalogue.

It was also during this time that everyone paid with cash (not credit card and interact) and sorting through your change to fill the blanks in those blue cardboard Whitman books was kind of a normal thing to do. You took that AU or VF coin, put your thumb or finger on the Obverse or Reverse to press it in the holder. The hope was that you didn’t bend the coin when you inserted it. Guessing that many of us weren’t knowledgeable enough to understand that the acid from our fingers could impair the coin.

During those years, Coin-O-Rama was a common name for the local coin shows that were held. Medicine Hat, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Kamloops just to name a few had their shows each year. These shows drew an array of interested coin collectors with numismatic displays, tables with purchasable goods.

Yes, times have changed in the way that we do things and today the term Coin-O-Rama is not used anymore for the Coin Shows. Today the Edmonton Numismatic Society hosts two shows, there is a spring show typically held in March and a fall show in November.

We sure hope to see you there.

Junior Trophy Award

This trophy was for the best Junior show display at the Edmonton Coin Club/Edmonton Numismatic Society Coin-O-Rama coin shows. Recipients for the Junior Trophy were open for youth under the age of 16 years. The youth would submit their display to be judged at the Coin-O-Rama coin shows amongst other youth’s displays. Unlike the Alberta Court of Honors, the youth did not need to submit their displays as a category specific display.

1972 – Stephanie Menges (Calgary)
1973 – Susan Wolley-Dod (Calgary)
1974 – Lawrence Herzog (Edmonton)
1975 – Stuart & Rod Mackenzie (Edmonton)
1976 – Lawrence Herzog (Edmonton)
1977 – Doug Kobylanski (Edmonton
1978 – Steven McKinley (Edmonton)
1984 – Jason Neiman (Edmonton)

Alberta Court of Honors Award

Recipients for the Alberta Court of Honors were for an individual who had previously entered a numismatic display in a competition and won with their display. The individual would then submit their award-winning display to be judged at the Coin-O-Rama coin shows amongst other award winning displays.

1965 – Mrs. Kay Huber (Red Deer) – Canadian Coins & Paper Money
1966 – Mr. George Chichak (Edmonton) – Canadian Coins
1968 – Reg C. Haskell (Edmonton) – Canadian Coins
1969 – Jack Boddington (Edmonton) – Medals
1970 – Mrs. Betty Cairns (Edmonton)
1971 – Jack Boddington (Edmonton) – Life Saving Medals
1972 – Eddy Liedke (Calgary) – Foreign Coins
1973 – David Kennedy (Viking) – Foreign Coins
1974 – Mark Mogen (Calgary) – Foreign Coins
1975 – M. J. Power (Calgary) – Foreign Coins
1976 – Pat Spragg (Calgary) – Foreign Coins
1977 – Albert Kaiser (Calgary) – Foreign Coins
1978 – Howard Gilbey (Sherwood Park) – Medallic Art
1979 – J. Wray Eltom (Edmonton) – Medallic Art
1984 – J. Wray Eltom (Edmonton) – Medallions