The Canadian Law And Buying/Selling/Recieving Of Counterfeit

When using my trusty old G4 with Safari it's right there close to the top of their home page.
For IE you you may to do a site search for Constitution and Bylaws.

From the RCNA site

Mike, can you please explain to me why your view on the legality of coins marked "copy" or "replica", and clearly not intended to be used as currency (i.e. a medium of exchange), somehow prevail over the views of the former Chief Justice?

That's what is really grinding my gears about this debate.

I probably wouldn't argue medicine with the Surgeon General, nor would I argue law with the Chief Justice.

john, I'm referring to Justice Laskin's remarks in Robinson v. R. Where he said that if the coins weren't to be used as currency, then lawful justification or excuse exists for possessing these coins, and it would not violate the section.

Part XII of the Code deals with CURRENCY offenses. Currency is a medium of exchange. Having them as collectibles or for sale to collectors is not against the law.

This was in a decision by the Supreme Court. I'm failing to see why people are taking other's opinions over the opinion of the Supreme Court!

Yes this decision should set case law in Canada, need a lawyer to chime in on this issue. The RCM can still stop this problem by enforcing their copyrights which only they can claim.

I don't have much to contribute here (as a relatively new collector of about two years), but I just couldn't resist popping in to express thanks for this most interesting and thought provoking thread. I feel that I'm gaining a lot of knowledge and understanding from this discussion. Previously, I would have thought that a replica (or copy) so marked would have been a legitimate form of art.

The law, or its excerpts, as I have seen here, does lend itself to some interpretation. Perhaps a rewrite of same could erase any ambiguity.

For the sake of discussion: No legal tender Canadian coin bearing the text "COPY" or "REPLICA" has ever been struck by the Royal Canadian Mint. No colonial, maritime, nor pre-confederation tokens bear those texts. Therefore, any coin bearing those words does not resemble a Canadian coin. Comments please.

Now here's where I think things get nasty: So-called fantasy coins. I don't know if any Canadian ones exist, but here's a possible scenario.... Let's suppose that someone produces a medallion that has all the elements of a Canadian silver dollar, and in general, looks like a silver dollar. But has a date of 1934 (or any year that Canadian silver dollars were not produced). To a knowledgeable collector, this item does not represent a Canadian coin, since such a coin never existed. However, to someone who does not know these things, it would appear to be a valid coin. I believe that such an item should be illegal because it would have potential to mislead the unknowing. "Resemble" depends much on the eyes viewing the object.

Fake items from China are a big problem. Not just coins, but watches, purses ... just about any items of value. From what I can glean, it's a philosophy of "If you can't afford it, then just make your own". Do they not have values of authenticity and integrity?

A trade embargo with China would probably shut down most of our major retailers and leave many of us jobless.

What to do?

Education! If people stop buying these items, production will cease. As long as people keep buying them, the producers will keep pumping them out.

A few months ago I contacted a private mint in the GTA who makes coins and private tokens, ect. to produce a 5 oz. copper replica penny, an exact copy of the penny design. He flatly said it was illegal to have the queens image on any coin and that the RCM owns the copyrights on all Canadian coins, so much for this idea.

Taiwan is making fake pandas